UPDATE: Indiana Coaching Legend Bob Knight Released From Hospital, Family Asks for Privacy
Updated Monday, April 3, 2023, 4:09 p.m. ET
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Legendary Indiana basketball coach Bob Knight was released from a Bloomington hospital on Monday after spending the weekend there with an acute illness.
Knight, who is 82 years old and has been living back in Bloomington since 2019, was Indiana's coach for 29 years and won three national championships, in 1976, 1981 and 1987. He was hospitalized on Friday
Knight's son Pat released a statement on their family website on Monday.
"On behalf of the Knight Family, we thank you for your thoughts and prayers. As many have heard, my dad was hospitalized over the weekend with an illness and has since been released from the hospital.
"We ask for your privacy as he is cared for and resting at home in good hands. Coach always taught us, and those that played for him, the importance of fighting through adversity and he and our family thank you for the tremendous amount of support you have shown and given during this time. We appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers." — Pat Knight
Knight coached at Indiana from 1971 to 2000, and when he was fired he cut all ties to the university for more than 20 years. He coached at Texas Tech and also did some TV work before retiring for good.
He returned to Bloomington four years ago to be closer to friends and family. He and his wife Karen have a home on the east side of Bloomington and former players, coaches and friends are constant visitors.Knight made a dramatic return to Assembly Hall on Feb. 8, 2020, when he was welcomed with open arms — and tear-dripped cheeks — at an Indiana game against Purdue. Several dozen former players came in from out of town to be there for the halftime celebration.
He hasn't been to any more games, even with a former player, Mike Woodson, now the head coach the past two years. Woodson got visits every week from Knight this year, who would come to watch practice. It meant a lot to Knight, and to the current Indiana players, especially those with Indiana roots who know all about the Knight legacy at Indiana.
“It means a great deal to me that he’s back here,” Woodson said last month. “Make no mistake about it, Indiana basketball is Bob Knight. The fact that he’s back here where he belongs. It’s like old times again, and I’m excited about that.”
This story will be updated throughout the day.
Former Indiana coach Bob Knight chats with Mike Woodson during a practice this past season. (Photo courtesy of IU Athletics)
Related Bob Knight stories
- WOODSON ON PURDUE, KNIGHT (2023): Mike Woodson loved fighting the battle with Purdue with his coach, Bob Knight, and he loves it still these days as coach of the Hoosiers. He talked about his coach, the chair throw and the in-state rivalry on the eve of Saturday night's primetime showdown at Mackey Arena. CLICK HERE
- KNIGHT'S RETURN MEANS EVERYTHING TO FORMER PLAYERS: Indiana basketball fans were brought to tears with the return of legendary coach Bob Knight, who made his first appearance at Assembly Hall in 20 years on Saturday. CLICK HERE
- EXODUS IS OVER: Former players can come and go now without upsetting their former coach CLICK HERE
- PLAYERS TALK VISIT: What the day meant for his former players. CLICK HERE
- PATRICK KNIGHT TALKS ABOUT HIS DAD: He loved returning to Assembly Hall with his father, Bob Knight, on Saturday. CLICK HERE
- THE FORGOTTEN GREAT TEAM: Indiana's 1980 team that was honored Saturday "was better than the 1981 team that won the national championship.'' CLICK HERE
