Pat Knight Resigns as Head Coach at Marian University
Pat Knight has stepped down from his position as the head coach of the men’s basketball team at Marian University, located in Indianapolis, which competes at the NAIA level. His resignation follows a directive from the university’s administration asking him to dismiss a member of his staff, a request that Knight declined.
Frustration and Resignation
In an interview with IndyStar on a Monday evening, Knight expressed his frustration:
“I quit today. They wanted me to fire a staff member, and I didn’t want to. When the administration starts trying to tell you what to do, nah, I’ve been there before.”
Recent Game and Coaching Style
In a turn of events that echoed his legendary father Bob Knight‘s coaching style, Pat Knight faced ejection during the first half of a game against Goshen just days before his resignation. Remarkably, he maintained his composure and refrained from the dramatic chair-throwing antics that became synonymous with his father. The January 31 match ended in a narrow defeat for Marian, with a final score of 75-74, marking the end of the Knights’ season and coincidentally breaking Goshen’s 54-game conference losing streak.
Reflections on His Tenure
Knight opted not to reveal the identity of the staff member involved in the controversy. Efforts by IndyStar to obtain a comment from Marian’s athletic director, Steve Downing, at the time of Knight’s resignation were unsuccessful. Reflecting on his situation, Knight remarked:
“I always wanted to go out on my own. I’m glad to be back home in Indianapolis. Hopefully, I’ll get back into NBA scouting. Life’s too short to put up with that bull(crap).”
Coaching Record and Background
During his tenure at Marian, Knight recorded a challenging 16-34 overall record, including 7-23 in the Crossroads League. His coaching career also includes a significant period as a Division I coach at Texas Tech, where he succeeded his father in the 2007-08 season, finishing with a total of 79 wins and 123 losses over four seasons. His coaching stint at Lamar was more successful, leading to a Southland Conference title and NCAA tournament appearance in 2012 before experiencing a tough finish to his tenure there.
Basketball Operations Experience
In addition to his coaching roles, Knight has an extensive background in basketball operations, having worked as a scout for the Indiana Pacers and holding assistant positions with various teams, including the Suns and several collegiate programs. An Indiana native, Knight played for the Hoosiers and was a part of the 1992 Final Four team.
