BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Hall of Fame basketball coach Bob Knight, who led Indiana University to three men’s national titles, was hospitalized on Friday with an undisclosed illness, according to a message sent to program alumni.
Update 5:29 p.m. EDT April 3: According to a statement from Knight’s family, the Hall of Fame coach has been released from a hospital.
“On behalf of the Knight family, we thank you for your thoughts and prayers,” the coach’s son, Pat Knight, said in a statement. “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.
Original report: According to an email sent to former Indiana basketball players, Knight, 82, had been admitted with “an acute illness,” the Indianapolis Star reported.
“Please join us in sending prayers to coach Knight and his family,” the email read, according to WDRB-TV. “Coach Knight was admitted to the hospital Friday evening and is currently recovering from an acute illness. The family’s hope is to have him back home soon.”
News: Bob Knight was hospitalized over the weekend with an illness. Former players were informed. Hope is he will return home soon: https://t.co/6HnutXj2AX
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) April 3, 2023
It is unclear what illness Knight is suffering from, according to the television station.
Knight, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991, won national titles at Indiana in 1976, 1981 and 1987. He won 11 Big Ten titles and 662 games at Indiana during a 29-year career at the school. He was fired in September 2000 after he allegedly grabbed a student by the arm in a hallway, according to ESPN.
Knight was hired by Texas Tech in 2001 and coached until he retired in 2008. At the time of his retirement, Knight was the all-time Division I leader in victories with 902, Sports Illustrated reported.
Knight moved back to Bloomington, Indiana, in 2019, according to the Star. On Feb. 8, 2020, he relented from a long-held promise not to return to Indiana when he attended a game between the Hoosiers and Purdue University, WDRB reported.
Mike Woodson, who played for Knight from 1976 to 1980, was hired as Indiana’s coach in March 2021, according to the Star.
Knight was a four-time NCAA coach of the year and was Big Ten coach of the year five times.
He guided the U.S. men’s OIympic team to a gold medal in 1984.
Officials at Indiana University did not have an update on Knight’s condition on Monday, ESPN reported.
