According to a report by Talia Goodman of On3, Marian University is set to hire Pat Knight as their next head basketball coach.
Pat Knight is a former IU basketball player and of course the son of the late legendary Indiana coach Bob Knight.
The Director of Athletics at Marian is former IU player Steve Downing, who helped lead Bob Knight’s 1973 team to the Final Four. Downing was named that season’s Big Ten MVP after averaging 20.1 points and 10.6 rebounds.
The 53-year-old Pat will leave his position as a scout for the Indiana Pacers.
The hire could bring Pat back to Bloomington in the fall. Indiana has played the Indianapolis-based school in a preseason exhibition game each of the last two seasons. Downing and IU coach Mike Woodson both remained close with Bob Knight until he passed in November.
After IU played Marian in 2022, Woodson hinted that preseason game could be an annual occurrence.
“Steve and I have been friends for a long time, and I’m proud of the job he’s done as an AD at Marian and giving them an opportunity,” Woodson said. “I’m going to do it every year that I’m here; that they can come in here and play.”
Downing, Bob Knight and Pat Knight were all together at Texas Tech for ten years (2001-2011), when both Knights had tenures as head coach there. Downing served in an administrative role in the athletics department, and Pat was an assistant coach before he took over as head coach.
Pat was the head coach at Texas Tech from 2008-2011. He then served as head coach at Lamar for three seasons. Pat’s career coaching record is 79-123. He led Lamar to the 2012 NCAA Tournament.
Pat was an assistant coach at IU under his father during his final two years in Bloomington (1998-2000).
As a player at IU, Pat was with the program for five years, from 1990 through 1995. He scored 138 points while playing for his father in Bloomington. He played on the 1991 and 1993 Big Ten title teams, and the 1992 Final Four squad.
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