It’s Time for Decision on Knight

In what could be safely described as a Sunday on the brink, the fate of Bob Knight’s brilliant but volcanic 29-year career as Indiana University basketball coach was bounce-passed from the school’s trustees to university President Myles Brand, who will announce today at a 1 p.m. (PDT) downtown news conference whether Knight will be fired or retained.

Knight is not expected to attend.

Eight of the nine trustees met privately Sunday for 2 hours 20 minutes at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis. Stephen L. Ferguson recused himself from deliberations because he reportedly helped write Knight’s current contract.

After the meeting, the trustees were escorted by security personnel past reporters.

Board President John D. Walda made the only public comment among the trustees, saying, “The process has been productive, and we’re just about to conclude it.”

Indianapolis television station WTTP reported Sunday night that one high ranking IU official said he thinks “Bob Knight’s career at IU is over,” but the reporter acknowledged it was “just speculation.”

The Washington Post did not specify sources but reported Knight can save his coaching job if he accepts disciplinary action by the university.

Another news agency had reported four of the nine trustees favored Knight’s firing, but the final decision will be made today by Brand, IU’s president since 1994 and a man who allegedly was kicked out of a Hoosier practice once by Knight.

“No decision has been reached,” university spokesman Christopher Simpson said of Knight’s future. “[Brand] has a full range of options and his final decision will be made in concurrence with the board’s wishes.”

Simpson said Brand, who would not comment, will make the final call.

“It is my understanding that there are still one or more individuals he will confer with before reaching a decision,” Simpson added.

Brand appointed the trustees in March to investigate Knight in the aftermath of a CNN/Sports Illustrated report alleging Knight choked former player Neil Reed during a 1997 Indiana basketball practice. Knight denied the charge, although a subsequent release of a practice videotape appears to validate Reed’s claim.

The trustees had until June 20 to complete their investigation, but have concluded their inquiry more than a month early in spite of an avalanche of new accusations against Knight.

Brand’s options appear to be: Fire Knight; retain him with a reprimand; or retain him with conditions, such as shackling Knight with a “zero tolerance” stipulation.

Knight will almost certainly not resign. Friends have been encouraging him to make a broad-based apology and, on Saturday, before what was described as a “very vigorous” two-hour meeting with Brand at Brand’s on-campus residence, Knight issued a 330-word statement in which he addressed his decades-long problem with his temper.

While not admitting to specific allegations against him, Knight acknowledged, “I know as well as anybody does: I have to develop a more diplomatic approach. I’m not very good at just forgetting something and going on, and I’m truly sorry about that.”

The Knight story gained new and powerful momentum this week when reports surfaced of at least four other incidents dating back 25 years.

Knight was accused of knocking out sports information director Kit Klingelhoffer in a dispute over a press release; intimidating office secretary Jeanette Hartgraves; attacking former assistant coach Ron Felling; and berating his boss, Athletic Director Clarence Doninger, earlier this year.

Knight’s history has been littered with unsavory outbursts: his 1979 conviction in absentia of punching a Puerto Rico policeman, his cross-court heave of a chair during a 1985 game and his 1993 kicking of a player, his son Pat.

Along the way, Knight has established himself as one of the game’s great coaches, winning national titles in 1976, 1981 and 1987.

With 763 wins at age 59, Knight appears well in reach of eclipsing former North Carolina coach Dean Smith’s record of 879.

Hired as Indiana’s coach in 1971, Knight has enjoyed an almost unshakable status, revered by fans in a state where basketball is almost religion.

But Knight’s grip on the reins have slipped in recent years, by Indiana’s lofty standards, perhaps in the end making his more undesirable qualities less tolerable.

Indiana has not appeared in a Final Four since 1992 and was routed by Pepperdine in the first round of this year’s NCAA tournament.

Knight still has his defenders, and several members of Indiana’s basketball team say they will leave the program if he is fired.

Tom Geyer, a reserve junior forward, was denied a chance to speak on the players’ behalf at Sunday’s meeting, but said afterward, “We feel the trustees are going to make the right decision.” Sunday’s important meeting attracted only two Knight supporters.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

No Shining Knight

Controversies involving Indiana basketball Coach Bob Knight:

* 1975-76--Upset over two turnovers, Knight grabbed sophomore Jim Wisman by the jersey and jerked him into his seat. Later Wisman said Knight was right in his actions, but Knight said he was wrong.

* 1979--Was charged and later tried and convicted in absentia for hitting a Puerto Rican policeman before practice at the Pan American Games. Knight was sentenced to six months in jail but the government of Puerto Rico decided in 1987 to drop efforts to extradite him.

* 1980-81--Used his weekly program to show films of a “sucker punch” involving Isiah Thomas and Purdue’s Roosevelt Barnes, which he said proved Thomas’ innocence. He brings a donkey wearing a Purdue cap onto his TV show. In Philadelphia for the Final Four, Knight got into a shoving match with a Louisiana State fan, who said the coach stuffed him into a garbage can.

* 1984-85--Tossed a chair across the court during a game against Purdue. Knight was ejected and suspended for one game by Big Ten Commissioner Wayne Duke. Knight apologized.

* 1986-87--Banged his fist on the scorer’s table after being assessed a technical foul during an NCAA regional tournament game against Louisiana State. The university was fined $10,000 by the NCAA and Knight received a reprimand.

* 1988--In an NBC interview with Connie Chung, who asked how he handles stress, Knight said: “I think that if rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it.” He explained he was talking about something beyond one’s control, not the act of rape. The remark triggered protests and a march of about 300 people on the Indiana campus.

* 1991-92--Barred a female reporter from the locker room, saying it was inappropriate for her to be there and also against university policy. All reporters were subsequently barred from the locker room.

* 1991-92--Playfully gave a mock whipping to Calbert Cheaney, a black player, during practice for the NCAA West Regional. Several black leaders are offended. Knight denied any racial connotations and noted the bullwhip was given to him by the players.

* 1993-94--Was suspended for one game after a sideline tirade in a 101-82 victory over Notre Dame. During the outburst, Knight screamed at his son Pat, and kicked him in the leg. Then when fans behind the Indiana bench started booing, Knight turned and responded with an obscenity.

* 1993-94--Accidentally head-butted freshman Sherron Wilkerson during a timeout at Michigan State. After the next game, the Hoosiers’ home finale against Wisconsin, Knight took the public address microphone and recited a profane verse directed at his critics.

* 1994-95--Was reprimanded and fined $30,000 by the NCAA for an outburst at a news conference during the NCAA tournament. Miffed that an NCAA media liaison erroneously said he would not attend the news conference, Knight lashed out at him after the Hoosiers’ 65-60 first-round loss to Missouri.

* 1997-98--Was fined $10,000 by the Big Ten for berating referee Ted Valentine, whose officiating Knight called “the greatest travesty” he had seen in his coaching career. Knight received three technical fouls and was ejected by Valentine during the second half of a loss to Illinois.

* 1999--Investigated for possible battery after allegedly choking a man at an Ellettsville, Ind., restaurant. The man reportedly confronted Knight as he was leaving, claiming he heard Knight make a racist remark.

* 2000--University investigated Knight after former player Neil Reed claimed the coach choked him during practice in 1997. A tape appeared to support Reed’s claim. Other reports followed: Knight attacked a former Indiana sports information director and threw a vase near an athletic department secretary.