Coach Knight Resigns

     (Written February 5, 2008 5:47 a.m.)
     For the first time in 14 years of coaching high school basketball, I implemented a zone defense tonight. We put it in yesterday. "Has hell frozen over?" one of my players asked. "What if Coach Knight finds out?" another one asks. That one made me laugh.
     Walking to my car after another loss, I asked myself, "Would Coach Knight be disappointed in me?" We are just too slow, too unathletic to play man all game, I tried to rationalize. It didn't help. I worried WWCKT (What Would Coach Knight Think?)

  
       I got in my car, tuned in to Sportstalk. At 9:04pm I heard the news that Coach Knight had resigned. My body went numb. I got light-headed. I had to pull over. Hell just now had frozen over.


     I've been a fan of Coach Knight's for years. Attended his clinics, flew out to IU every year, etc. After Coach was fired from IU I wrote an editorial for our local paper, basically about perception vs. reality. About a week later I get a call from Coach Knight who somehow got a copy of it. He thanked me and told me it meant a lot to him what I wrote. To make a long story short, since then 8 years ago, he's befriended me.
I've been to Lubbock a dozen times, to games, practices, out to dinner with Coach. On a few of his visits to the Hall of Fame (my hometown) we have gotten together.

     I can unequivocally say that outside of my parents, no one has been kinder or more generous to me, than Coach Knight. And no one has taught me more about integrity, humility, loyalty, honesty, (and yes) the right way about going about things, than he. He has given my players autographed pictures, donated items to various charities I've been involved in, and has allowed me "special access" into his practices. The good things Coach has done for me, and the good he has done not only for his players, but for a vast majority of people, I could talk about for hours. But the humility he has, and his disdain for self-publicity, won't allow for most of the public to see all that.

     Of course, like everyone else, Knight has his foibles. And because of his persona, sensationalized attention is given to it, sometimes fairly, other times not. But I always get a kick out of some sanctimonious sportswriter, who's never played a competitive sport in his life, lament Knight on this or that. The same type who think John Wooden, one of the biggest cheaters in all of sports (and could curse like a drunken sailor), is the epitome of all that is good.

     Coach Knight's health is fine. The timing of his departure makes sense from the standpoint that he can leave without fanfare or a "farewell tour". And allowing Pat to take over with 10 games left, allows a better transition for him, the players, and a different philosophy in preparation for next year (they're not a tourney team this year).

     I'm one of thousands who never want to disappoint the man. His players past & present, Mike Krzyzewski, fellow coaches, all feel the same. And it's not because of basketball. It's because of his example of selflessness & loyalty towards others that we feel the need to imitate and reciprocate. Coach couldn't care less if I play zone defense, and he'll really never know. But that doesn't stop me from seeking his approval, however irrational it is. To me, there's no better example than that, of someone being a more positive influence.

     I'll be heading down to Lubbock for Tech's last game of the season March 8th. It just won't be the same. Coach, speaking on behalf of millions, you will be missed. And speaking for myself, I'll still always think, zone defense or not, kick a kid in the ass or pat him on the back, What Would Coach Knight Think?