Knight's achievements honored in HOF ceremony

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) - Friday night was big for IU and Bob Knight fans. The famous former basketball coach was among seven honorees inducted into the 2009 IU Hall of Fame in Assembly Hall.

Listen to segments of Knight's 2000 interview with 24-Hour News 8 by clicking on the video link in the left margin of the story. Also, click on the Photo tab to see several images chronicling Knight's career at IU.

Coach Knight had both a stellar and stormy time as IU’s premier basketball coach, but now the focus is on the stellar.

“We did it because it was the right thing to do. He belongs in the Hall of Fame. If an offshoot of that is it starts to warm up the relationship and brings Coach Knight closer into the fold, that’s great," said Fred Glass, Intercollegiate Athletic Director.

Knight is among seven former coaches and athletes inducted into the 2009 Hall of Fame. An honor some believe is overdue.

“Coach’s record speaks for itself: three National Championships, 11 Big Ten championships, more Big Ten MVPs and All-Americans and Coach of the Year awards than I can really count. He should be in the Hall of Fame. Probably should’ve been the first year he was eligible," said Glass.

Coach Knight said he had no plans to attend the ceremony fearing his presence would overshadow the other inductees, and he may have been right. However, IU fans who would’ve loved to see him back in Bloomington are not in total agreement.

“I think he should be represented somehow," said Jeff Jones, a Knight fan who attended the ceremony. "If he couldn’t be here, or didn’t want to be here, hopefully there’s some sort of statement he makes on behalf of his time here at the university. He had a lot of great years here at the university."

“I would’ve loved for him to show up," said Les Wright, another Knight fan. "But I kind of understand why he didn’t. But I kept expecting him to come in at the very last moment and then leave right before it was over so that you guys didn’t have a chance to get around him.”

Many gathered at the ceremony said it was great to see Coach Knight finally get his due, even if they didn’t see him.

Friday night’s other honorees include Jerry Yeagley, Steve Downing, Katrin Koch, Joe Norman, the late Mike Rabold and Alan Somers.

A look back at Knight's IU years

In an interview with 24-Hour News 8 the year he was fired from Indiana University, Bob Knight said he wasn't prepared when he was hired in 1971 for the "intense interest there would be in basketball at Indiana University."

Poignant words from Knight. Thus began a love affair with Hoosier faithful that ended in a belated IU Hall of Fame induction.

Most remember the ugly way it all unraveled with Myles Brand's zero tolerance policy that resulted in his firing. But the numbers, records, championships and notoriety Knight brought Indiana are unmatched. He’s captured 661 victories, 11 Big Ten titles and the NCAA championships in 1976, 1981 and 1987.

Knight is still the only coach in history to lead teams to NCAA, NIT, Pan-American and Olympic championships.

In the sit down interview with former WISH-TV news anchor Mike Ahern, the coach was asked if he thought he was too tough on his players.

"I don't look back at everything I've done on this basketball floor and say it was the right thing to do at that time," said the embattled bench boss.

Knight's still the last coach to have a perfect season. He's mentored 16 All-America players, 29 who played in the NBA. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1991 and stands as the coach with the most wins in college basketball history.

"If, when it comes down to the final analysis of me, the biggest problem that people see in me is language, I'll be able to look at myself and say I did a pretty damn good job when I was here," Knight told Ahern.

For Knight fans and foes alike, that's hard to deny.