The legacy of late Indiana men’s basketball head coach Bob Knight not only lives on in Bloomington, but also Springfield, Massachusetts.
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame honored Knight on Oct. 13 with a bench dedication as part of the Naismith Coaches Circle Program. The program honors Dr. James Naismith, who’s often credited with inventing basketball, and serves as a tribute to his core values: teamwork, cooperation, leadership, perseverance and integrity.
Through the bench dedication, the Coaches Circle Program aims to be a pathway for current coaches to honor those who impacted or inspired their careers.
Marian University men’s basketball head coach Pat Knight, Bob Knight’s son, represented the family at Sunday’s event. Pat played under his father from 1991-95 and was an assistant coach on the Hoosiers’ staff from 1999-2000.
Indiana had several representatives present for Knight’s honoring, including head men’s basketball coach Mike Woodson, athletic director Scott Dolson, Indiana Athletics Hall of Fame members Quinn Buckner, Scott May and Steve Ferguson and long-time team physician Larry Rink.
Knight, who passed away Nov. 1, 2023, was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991. He coached the Hoosiers from 1971-2000, compiling a record of 659-242 while winning three NCAA championships and 11 Big Ten regular season titles.
Knight’s bench is on display and available for fans to see at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.
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