 Bobby Knight - Few coaches have possessed the ability to carry sports past being simply a game. Bobby Knight is one of the few. Bobby Knight is a winner. No other coach in the United States has guided teams to every major title-three NCAA championships, an NIT title, the Pan American gold and the Olympic gold medal. He is an innovator. When Bobby Knight arrived at Indiana University in 1971, Big Ten offensive averages came down as other coaches copied his successful passing-game offense and tenacious man-to-man defense. But most importantly, Bobby Knight is a teacher. Over 90 percent of his players have graduated, but their most valuable lesson comes from their coach. Indiana players learn to accomplish more than they thought possible.
The Accomplishments: No other coach has taken teams to every major title-three NCAA championships, an NIT title, the Pan American gold and the Olympic gold medal. In his years at Indiana, Bobby Knight's teams have compiled a record of 486-160 for a .752 winning percentage. Indiana has played in 16 NCAA tournaments under Bobby Knight, winning national championships in 1976, 1981 and 1987 and finishing third in 1973 and 1992. National Coach-of-the-Year by unanimous selection in 1975; Coach-of the-Year by AP and Basketball Weekly in 1976; 1987 Naismith Coach-of-the-Year; and Coach-of-the-Year by Associated Press, United Press International and United States Basketball Writers in 1989. Head coach for gold medal-winning Olympic team at the XXIII Olympiad in Los Angeles and for the gold medal winning Pan American team in 1979.
In achieving undefeated regular seasons in 1975 and 1976, the Hoosiers won 37 consecutive Big Ten games and hold the 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5-year Big Ten records for most wins. Bobby Knight has coached a National Player-of-the-Year, 11 All-Americans, and eight Big Ten Most Valuable Players. Seventeen Knight players have been All-Big Ten choices on 26 different occasions, five have become Olympians and five have played on Pan American teams.
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