Indiana Denies Knight’s Fate Is Sealed

As a ring of accusations tightens around Bob Knight, Indiana University trustees will begin Sunday to decide the fate of the fiery basketball coach.

Charges of physical intimidation of players, staff and school officials, some going back more than 20 years, surfaced after a videotape of an Indiana practice was leaked to the media in March. Former player Neil Reed claimed he was choked by Knight.

The trustees will meet amid growing speculation they will consider asking Knight to resign rather than force a showdown that could lead to his dismissal.

One report, denied by university officials Friday, suggested four of nine board members already are prepared to recommend Knight be fired. Several Indiana players said they would leave the team if Knight is forced out.

“It is incorrect to suggest that Indiana University has reached a decision in its review of allegations concerning basketball Coach Bob Knight,” said Vice President Christopher Simpson, a spokesman for President Myles Brand. “It is also incorrect to suggest that the scope of the review has been expanded. No decisions can be reached until that review is complete.”

Simpson said he did not expect a major announcement after Sunday’s meeting. Although trustees might meet privately to discuss personnel matters, they can take official action only in public meetings, which require 48 hours’ notice, excluding weekends.

Since the investigation began in March, there have been reports of fights involving Knight and a former assistant coach, the Indiana athletic director and the university’s sports information director. A secretary in the athletic department this week also said an enraged Knight once threw a vase in her direction and more recently stormed into a waiting area, swore at her and came toward her in anger before Athletic Director Clarence Doninger restrained him.

Indianapolis television station WRTV reported Thursday that Knight attacked Kit Klingelhoffer, the sports information director, more than 20 years ago during a confrontation over a news release. Klingelhoffer was knocked out, the station reported.

Klingelhoffer would not comment when contacted Thursday by The Associated Press, but a former athletic department secretary said Friday she saw Knight attack Klingelhoffer and then storm out.

“We just sat there for a while and then we all just went back to work, and nobody ever said a thing about it,” Terry Cagle told WRTV by phone from Searsport, Maine.

Ron Felling, the former assistant coach fired in December days after the reported altercation with Knight, would not confirm speculation he was the source of the tape showing Knight grabbing Reed by the throat. Earlier, Indiana associate athletic director Steve Downing said Felling told him he kept the tape since 1997 for possible use as his “trump card.”