Legendary college basketball coach Bob Knight has died at 83.
Knight’s family announced the news of his passing on his official website on Wednesday.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share that Coach Bob Knight passed away at his home in Bloomington surrounded by his family. We are grateful for all the thoughts and prayers, and appreciate the continued respect for our privacy as Coach requested a private family gathering, which is being honored,” his family wrote.
The General Returns.
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) February 8, 2020
Bob Knight took the floor at Assembly Hall with his former players to a standing ovation: pic.twitter.com/ipq47fqbCu
The statement continued, “We will continue to celebrate his life and remember him, today and forever as a beloved Husband, Father, Coach, and Friend.”
Knight’s cause of death has not been revealed. However, his family posted a link to the Alzheimer’s Association in his memory.
According to ESPN, Knight, known for his temper as much as his successes, started coaching at Cuyahoga Falls High School in Ohio after graduating from Ohio State in 1962.
Knight became the youngest coach at a Division I school in 1965 when he broke in at Army at 24. But he made his mark at Indiana, including winning a school-record 661 games and reaching the NCAA tournament 24 times in 29 seasons. Knight’s first NCAA title came in 1976 when Indiana went undefeated, a feat no team has accomplished since.
Knight’s accolades comprised of five Final Fours, 11 Big Ten Conference titles, and a 32-0 undefeated season in 1976 for the Indiana Hoosiers, according to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
In 1984 he became one of only three coaches to win the triple crown with an NCAA title, an Olympic gold medal, and an NIT title.
Knight, who gained the nickname “The General,” was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991.
On Wednesday, Duke Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski paid tribute to Knight who was his former coach and mentor.
“We lost one of the greatest coaches in the history of basketball today. Clearly, he was one of a kind. Coach Knight recruited me, mentored me, and had a profound impact on my career and in my life,” he said via The Athletic’s Brendan Marks. Krzyzewski played for Knight at Army and surpassed him as the winningest Division I college basketball coach in 2011.
He continued, “This is a tremendous loss for our sport, and our family is deeply saddened by his passing. We offer our sincerest condolences to Karen, Tim, Pat, and their families during this difficult time.”