| | ESPN.com news services
INDIANAPOLIS -- Bob Knight's temper finally did him in.
The Indiana basketball coach, already in trouble for a history
of misconduct, was fired Sunday by the school for a "pattern of
unacceptable behavior."
University president Myles Brand, who announced the firing at a
news conference, called Knight "defiant and hostile" and said the
coach had shown a "continued unwillingness" to work within
guidelines of the athletic department.
|
Ten protesters arrested
|
|
In response to the Bob Knight's firing Sunday, thousands gathered outside Assembly
Hall, the arena where Knight won three national championships.
The crowd marched through campus to Brand's home, yelling in unison:
"Hey, hey, ho, ho. Myles Brand has got to go."
Horns blared across campus, makeshift signs and banners filled
dorm windows and hung from fraternity balconies. Some read, "Bob
Knight is God" or "Mr. Knight 4 Prez."
Others were threatening messages to Harvey. Campus police arrested 10 people, most for
disorderly conduct.
|
Knight had been warned in May about his behavior during three
tumultuous decades at Indiana, where he won three national titles
as one of the game's best coaches but also one of its most
volatile. But his behavior became even worse since then, Brand
said.
The final confrontation came last week when Knight grabbed a
student by the arm to lecture him about manners at Assembly Hall.
The coach had been ordered to abide by a "zero-tolerance"
conduct policy, which included no "inappropriate" physical
contact with students.
"He did not fulfill the promises he gave me," Brand said.
Knight had the option of resigning but refused, the school
president said.
Knight, who met with his players Sunday night, emerged from
Assembly Hall just after midnight and addressed the throngs of
students who had been gathered outside for hours.
"In the next couple days, I'm going to get together somewhere
with as many students who want to come out, and them I'm going to
tell you my side of this thing," Knight told the crowd, which
responded with cheers. "And I think you'll be interested in
hearing it."
Brand stressed that Knight's run-in with 19-year-old freshman
Kent Harvey on Thursday was not the only reason for the dismissal
of the 59-year-old Hall of Fame coach.
"If that was the only instance that took place you would not be
here today," Brand told reporters.
Indiana players and coaches had already been informed of the decision.
"We met with the president (the team and the staff) and he wasn't too happy," said assistant coach Mike Davis, referring to Brand. "He went over that he was waiting to get the police report, but it was still hard to believe they were going to get rid of coach (Knight)."
A source close to Knight said that Knight called Brand on Sunday morning and that the two "got into it." According to the source, Knight told the president that he would fly back from Canada, Brand said that wasn't necessary and that Indiana was going in a different direction. The source said that Brand was against Knight holding an impromptu news conference Friday and didn't want Knight to leave for Canada.
Reaction to the news was quick.
"Disbelief," said Jared Jeffries, a McDonald's All-American freshman who is Indiana's highest recruit. "I came to Indiana. I thought coach Knight would be here as long as I would.
"When I heard about it I thought there was a good chance this could happen," Jeffries said. "The university was so strong on its zero-tolerance policy and I knew that if something like this happened he could be in trouble."
Knight held a news conference Friday to explain his side of the
story.
The coach said he didn't curse at Harvey, stepson of Knight
critic and former local talk radio show host Mark Shaw, but did briefly hold
his arm and lecture him.
The teenager had said, "Hey, what's up, Knight?" as they
crossed paths at the basketball arena, a greeting the coach deemed
disrespectful.
Brand said he stood by his decision for not firing Knight in May
and for instituting the conduct policy, calling it the "ethical
and moral thing to do" because of Knight's contributions to the
school.
"I still believe we had to give him one last chance," Brand
said. "He failed to live up to that. That was his decision.
"His unacceptable behavior not only continued since then but
increased."
|
Davis endorsement
|
|
McDonald's All-American freshman Jared Jeffries, the prize of Bob Knight's recruiting class for the upcoming season, would like to see assistant coach Mike Davis take over the head coaching job.
"I want coach Davis," Jeffries said after learning Sunday that Indiana University was set to fire Knight. "Coach Knight has gotten him ready the past three years. He knows the IU system. He recruited the nucleus of the team. We need him a lot."
Jeffries said the program would remain strong with Davis at the helm.
"As long as coach Davis is with us, we've got the talent," Jeffries said. "It just may take a while for us to get everything down."
|
The search for a new coach will begin immediately and Brand said
he did not yet have any candidates. Knight will be paid for
the final two years of his contract.
Besides his three NCAA championships, Knight led the Hoosiers to
11 Big Ten titles and coached the U.S. men's basketball team to the
gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
But his behavior, which has included verbal and physical abuse
of players, has been a problem and often an embarrassment since he
took over the Hoosiers in 1971.
Knight has one of the game's most notorious tempers -- throwing
chairs across the court, stuffing a fan in a garbage can, scuffling
with Puerto Rico police and kicking his own son on the bench.
Last spring, he was accused of choking one of his players during
practice in 1997, an act caught on videotape. Following a school
investigation into that claim and others, Indiana warned Knight
that he must adhere to the conduct policy.
The university also suspended him for three games and fined him
$30,000.
Meanwhile, Harvey and his two brothers have received numerous
threats by phone and e-mail, said Shaw.
He said the teens never wanted to see Knight fired. An apology
from the coach was all they wanted.
Harvey and his brothers want to stay at Indiana, Shaw said, and
university officials have assured their family they will do
whatever is necessary to ensure the Harveys' safety.
"We'll have to see how that plays out. It's terrifying," Shaw
said.
ESPN.com senior writer Andy Katz and information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
| |
ALSO SEE
Hoosiers name Davis interim coach
Indiana players issue ultimatum: Hire who we want
Hoosier alum Cuban wants Knight on Mavs' payroll
Thomas interested in hiring Knight with Pacers
Indiana vows to protect coach's accuser from threats
Indiana decides to go all season with an interim coach
Knight tells his players he still wants to coach
Katz: Knight remained combative until bitter end
Forde: Knight was so gifted, so flawed
Iowa confident Alford not leaving for Hoosiers
Bilas: Knight was his own worst enemy
Thousands of students march in support of Knight
'Terrifying' threats aimed at Knight's accuser
Users react: Knight out at Indiana
IU President Myles Brand's statement
Bob Knight career timeline
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Indiana University officials excuse Bob Knight of his coaching duties.
RealVideo: 28.8
An emotional Dane Fife reacts after a meeting with his former coach Bob Knight.
RealVideo: 28.8
Athletics director Clarence Doninger talks about the future of Indiana basketball with ESPN's Ed Werder.
RealVideo: 28.8
Mark Shaw, the stepfather of Indiana University student Kent Harvey speaks with the ESPNews crew.
RealVideo: 28.8
ESPN's Dick Vitale looks at where Indiana and Bob Knight go from here.
RealVideo: 28.8
Andy Katz looks who could be Indiana's next head coach.
RealVideo: 28.8
Bob Knight denies a student's allegations against him during a news conference Friday.
RealVideo: 28.8
Sunday Conversation with Indiana basketball coach Bob Knight.
RealVideo: 28.8
 In support of Bob Knight and his staff, guard Dane Fife and others will consider leaving Indiana.
wav: 134 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
ESPN's Ed Werder spoke with President Myles Brand after Sunday's announcement.
wav: 702 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Jared Jeffries says Bob Knight was in a tough situation at Indiana.
wav: 255 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Myles Brand gives examples of Bob Knight's transgressions.
wav: 556 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
IU officials were set to remove Bob Knight prior to the confrontation according to ESPN.com's Andy Katz.
wav: 570 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Jared Jeffries says the Indiana players want assistant coach Mike Davis to replace Knight.
wav: 148 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Accuser Kent Harvey tell reporters he was immediately scared when confronted by Knight.
wav: 127 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Mark Shaw discusses the incident between his stepson and Bob Knight with ESPN's Chris McKendry.
RealAudio: 14.4
|
