Bob Knight

Education


Knight grew up during a time when academics were a big push. "In the sixties, there was a big force effort to replace American competitiveness with such things as positive attitude and self esteem; which in turn clashes with Knight’s ways of coaching the game of basketball" (Nichols, 1). Knight did not want a player to be focused on himself he wanted his teams to play like a team, not play like five different individuals out on the court. How could Knight be successful this way?

 


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Bob Knight was not a big fan of the academic administrators at the universities he worked for because they were always finding things that he was doing wrong or finding the rules he was breaking. Even though he wasn’t a big fan of them, education was still important to him. Knight must have made sure his players kept up in school, because he had an outstanding graduation percentage. "Knight’s players, throughout the many years, had a graduation rate percentage of 98 percent in a Division I school, when compared to the Division I average of 42 percent" (Nichols, 1). How did he do it? Why was he so successful? Many other coaches offer enticements to their players to get them to play or keep playing for them or keep their grades up, Knight didn’t; all he offered his players was “indentured servitude and unlimited practice” (Puma). Many of the players under Knight came back and played for four years. While playing ball they kept clean on and off the courts, which was a big accomplishment for Knight. The players that have played under Bob Knight were at one time or another have been “tutored” by him and benefitted from it. Knight was a very bright individual himself, never getting lower than a “B” in school. Him also being a high school teacher in Ohio near his hometown. Knight being smart and being a teacher more than likely had something to do with his influence on the students. Most players that have come through Knight’s program have an attitude of awe, admiration and respect; which is something that carries on into life, it doesn’t just stay at school.