Page 40 - Summer 2019 - Lubbock Senior Link Magazine - Online Magazine
P. 40
HONORING SENIORS
Bobby Knight’s first job after 1975-76 team went undefeated and four times. He is brilliant, smart,
graduation was at Cuyahoga Falls won the NCAA title, a feat no team and I’ve never had a better friend
High School, but a year later, a man has been able to accomplish since. than Bob Knight.” The celebrated
named George Hunter convinced In 1984, Bobby Knight coached the coach retired from Texas Tech, but
him to join the Army. After boot US men’s Olympic basketball team not before he broke the record for
camp at Fort Leonardwood, MO, to a gold medal win. He really career wins – 902.
he found himself the new assistant enjoyed his years at IU. “Indiana is
coach at West Point. When the a basketball state.” The majority of Karen Knight grew up in
head coach got fired, PFC Bob his players were from Indiana, and Kingfisher, Oklahoma. She herself
Knight was promoted to head “I had a good relationship with the was an athlete, who wanted to
coach. He served seven years high school coaches.” His career at be a PE teacher. Her only brother
at West Point, and during that IU earned “the General” lifelong had died tragically while she
time, “Navy never beat us.” He respect and love in the Hoosier was in high school, so even after
remained lifelong friends with two state. graduation from OU in 1969, she
generals, Jannarone and Murphy stayed close to home. Her teaching
who were among his biggest fans. In 2000, Texas Tech AD Gerald career began when a school
Myers asked his good friend Bobby principal who lived on one of their
Coach Knight is most famous to come to Texas Tech. Myers said, farms needed a Science teacher.
for his tenure at Indiana “He is one of basketball’s all-time She accepted the job at Okarche,
University (1971-2000), where best coaches. His record speaks for which included teaching Shorthand
he led the Hoosiers to three itself. I was pleased and honored and sponsoring the cheerleaders.
NCAA championships, one NIT when he came to Tech. He gave As a favor, she stepped in to coach
championship and 11 Big-10 us six years and took us to the the 7th and 8th grade team at the
Conference Championships. His NIT twice and the NCAA playoffs county tournament, and her 1A
girls won over
3A Kingfisher.
She went on to
coach basketball
for 17 years. “I
liked basketball.
It helped me
through a lot of
things.”
Coach Knight’s
wife is quiet
and reserved,
but she becomes
animated when
describing her
husband. “One of
the things I love
most about him
is how well he
takes care of the
people in his life.
40 Lubbock Senior Link
