902 wins. One tossed chair. 3 national titles. One Olympic gold medal. God knows how many young men strangled. Lubbock Online’s “Don’t Call Me Jerry” Jeff Walker on what should be the end of Bobby Knight’s glorious collegiate coaching career.
Bob Knight, in his seventh season as Texas Tech™s head coach, informed athletic director Gerald Myers on Monday morning he was retiring, effective immediately.Knight said he has contemplated retirement and thought about doing it after this season. But after talking to good friend and legendary basketball coach Pete Newell on Sunday, Knight believed now was the best time to begin the transition phase of having son, Pat, take over the program.
œThere™s a transition that™s going to take place here from me to Pat and I™ve dwelt on this all year long ” about what would be the best way to do this, and how it would be best for him and for the team and for what we can do in the long run to make this the best thing for Texas Tech, said Knight, who retires with 902 career victories. œI didn™t know, I™ve never really known when I was going to step down from this job. As I thought about it, my first thought was at the end of this season.
Knight said he spoke with Newell for about an hour and an half Sunday.
œMy thinking was that for Pat and for this team ” most of which is returning next year ” the best thing for the long run for this team would be for Pat and his staff to coach these remaining 10 games, Knight said. œAnd (to) get an understanding, get a real feel for each other, be able to think over the course of the spring and summer going into next season about how people had played, how things had been done offensively or defensively, what could be done or couldn™t be done, what to stay away from, what to work on and develop that from a game standpoint as the coach in charge of everything rather than as an assistant coach.”