Marian University Hires Pat Knight as Next Men's Basketball Head Coach

INDIANAPOLIS - On Wednesday, May 8, Director of Athletics Steve Downing officially announced the hiring of Pat Knight as the next Marian men's basketball head coach. Knight, the son of legendary coach Bob Knight, is the 10th head coach in program history.

An introductory press conference will be held on Friday, May 10 at 12:00 p.m. to introduce the Knights head coach. All are welcome to come and hear the opening remarks from the newest head coach of the Marian men's basketball team.

"I'm really excited to get back into coaching at Marian University," said Pat Knight on being named the Knights head coach. "I've been waiting for an opportunity like this for 10 years. I look forward to working with Steve Downing and President (Dan) Elsener in any way I can to keep Marian University an elite university. I will work hard to have a team that the state of Indiana can be proud of.

It's great to be back home in Indiana!"

Knight comes to Marian with a rich knowledge and history in the game of basketball, as a former player, head coach, and scout. Knight comes to Marian University after spending the past 10 years working as a scout for the Indiana Pacers, working on the west coast. His ties to Marian University are extensive, dating back to the relationship that his father Bob had with Marian University Director of Athletics Steve Downing. Downing played for Bob Knight at Indiana University, and later on in his career worked with the Knight family as an administrator at both Indiana and Texas Tech. The Knight family also has an endowed scholarship with Marian University, which began in 2012 after Bob Knight was inducted into the Clayton Family Circle of Honor.

"I am very proud and excited to name Pat Knight as our next basketball coach," said Director of Athletics Steve Downing. "Pat and I have been close for several years having watched him grow up as a player and coach in my time at Indiana and Texas Tech, and I am once again thrilled to be working with him. We look forward to everything Pat will do for our program, and I am excited for the opportunity our players have to play for him."

The new leader of the men's basketball program most recently coached from 2011-2014, serving as the head coach at Lamar University. In his time at Lamar, Knight coached the Cardinals to an NCAA Tournament First Four appearance in his first season, winning the Southland Conference in year one. Prior to his stint at Lamar University, Knight was the head coach at Texas Tech University, where he patrolled the sidelines from 2007-2011. Knight succeeded his father as head coach following his retirement in February of the 2007-08 season, and recorded three double-digit win seasons with the Red Raiders, making one NIT Appearance, placing in the tournament quarterfinals.

Before taking on the head coaching duties at Texas Tech, Knight served as an assistant under his father from 2001-08, working as both an assistant and the associate head coach. Knight worked at Akron University as an assistant coach in the 2000-01 season, and prior to that was an assistant coach at his alma mater Indiana University from 1998-2000.

Knight began his coaching career in 1996 as an assistant in the basketball operations staff for the Pheonix Suns. Knight followed his season with the Suns and spent the next two years coaching in the Continental and International Basketball Associations, serving as the assistant for the Connecticut Pride in 1997 and as the head coach of the Wisconsin Blast in 1998.

As a player at Indiana University, Knight lettered four seasons and was a member of one of the winningest Bob Knight coached teams, as the Hoosiers won 87 games in his first three collegiate seasons. Knight played on the Final Four team in 1992 and helped the Hoosiers to a No. 1 ranking in the 1993 season in which they reached the NCAA Elite Eight.

Pat Knight is happily married to his wife Amanda.

All media requests for Friday's press conference need to be made with Marian University Assistant Athletic Director for Communications Mitch Huppert, via email at mhuppert@marian.edu.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT PAT KNIGHT...

What an exciting day for Marian University. Hiring Pat Knight as Head Coach is going to bring a spotlight on an already high-level basketball program. President Elsener, Mr. Downing and the hiring committee have hired the right man for the job.  Basketball in Indiana means more, and no one knows that better than Pat, who was raised in the epicenter of it all. Pat will certainly coach the team well, recruit student-athletes that represent Marian with integrity and graduate his players, but he will quickly become a beloved member of the athletic department and university. Pat has been an integral member of our Pacers scouting staff for the past ten years, but I couldn't be more excited for the Knights – Pat and Marian University. Pat is back on the sidelines where he belongs. We will miss Pat and Amanda being a part of our organization, but I can't wait to see the motion offense back in action for years to come at Marian. I will be at every game I am able to attend.

-- Ryan Carr, Vice President of Player Personnel, Indiana Pacers

I am really excited for Pat Knight, Steve Downing, and the basketball program at Marian. Pat is a great young man, an exceptional coach, and will do wonderful things while coming home to work for such a great University

-- Mike Woodson, Head Men's Basketball Coach, Indiana University

"This is a great day for Marian University with the announcement of Pat Knight's hiring as the program's new Men's Basketball coach. Pat is a brilliant basketball mind who has a long track record of success at the highest levels of college basketball. He's also been a tremendous friend to me for more than 30 years, and it's wonderful to welcome him and his wife, Amanda, back to the state of Indiana. Knowing Pat as well as I do, I know that very good things are ahead for Marian University Men's Basketball."

-- Scott Dolson, Vice President and Director of Athletics, Indiana University

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