Reports | Pat Knight Fired as Texas Tech's Basketball Coach
by Seth C on Mar 7, 2011 10:57 AM CST
in Texas Tech Basketball
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PrintNot surprisingly, Texas Tech head coach Pat Knight was, "relieved of his duties," as head coach (RRS.com's Chris Level and LAJ). He will remain as the head coach through the Big 12 Tournament. [Note by Seth C, 03/07/11 11:11 AM CST ] UPDATE -- Per KCBD, here's a written statement
Texas Tech Will Relieve Pat Knight of Head Coaching Duties at Season's End
Texas Tech University President Guy Bailey announced Monday that Head Men's Basketball Coach Pat Knight will be relieved of his duties at the conclusion of the season.
"I felt like it was time to make a change within our men's basketball program," Bailey said. "I appreciate everything Pat has done for our university, not only as a head coach, but also throughout his career as an assistant. I wish him success and the best moving forward."
Knight will continue to coach the team through the Big 12 Conference Championships. A national search for the position will begin immediately.
For me personally, the move is not surprising, but the timing is surprising. There are other college basketball programs who have let their coaches go for the season, but the implication for me is that Texas Tech wants to get out in front of any other universities and start the head coach search as soon as possible. I mentioned earlier this morning that there were two articles this past week (here and here) that mentioned former Kentucky and Texas A&M head coach Billy Clyde Gillispie as a possibility. I don't think this was coincidence.
The other interesting item is that it was Guy Bailey letting Pat know that he was no longer going to be the head coach. Not the Chancellor and not the new athletic director, Kirby Hocutt. I don't think it would have been appropriate to ask Hocutt to make this move and I like the fact that Bailey is doing this. If I had to guess, Bailey and Hocutt are working in concert on this and the rumor was that the reason why the search for a new athletic director was sped up was for this very reason. For me, whether it's Bailey giving Pat the news or Hocutt, Pat's termination is on Texas Tech University. I get the feeling that a number of people wanted this to happen, no matter who was going to be named athletic director. I'm also guessing that part of the job description with the new AD was that he/she would need to find a new men's basketball coach. The new hire will be squarely on Hocutt, as it should be. It's time for Hocutt's first move.
I asked this question earlier this morning, but I'll ask it again. Obviously, Gillispie is the early favorite, but I'd love to know if there are some other names that we might want to consider as possible alternatives.
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Dalonte Hill
As I’ve commented before I really like Gillispie for his strong work ethic on the court. We all know that after watching games this season our guys would fizzle at the end of the games, and conditioning is a point of emphasis we need addressed. But, I still feel like recruiting is the backbone to a successful program and while Gillispie can be a hell of a recruiter, I still feel Dalonte Hill the Kansas State head assistant coach can recruit the best out of any current assistant in the big 12. He deserves a step up to a HC position at a program willing to give him a chance. If he got Michael Beasley and Jacob Pullen to go to Manhattan, KS what do you think he will bring to Lubbock, TX? And, he won’t cost us as much as a “high profile” name.
by DanSwany on Mar 7, 2011 11:12 AM CST via mobile reply actions
nothing personal
but i want a proven head coach.
"A job well done is better than a job well said."
by I bleed Red and Black on Mar 7, 2011 11:30 AM CST up reply actions
Looks like there is a reason he's not a proven head coach..... yet
On August 10, 2010, Kansas State athletic director John Currie extended Hill’s contract through 2015 and increased his salary to $423,750. His previous contract, worth $420,000 a year, made him the highest paid assistant coach in college basketball. In addition, Hill can receive a bonus of $80,000 depending on the success of his team.
by DanSwany on Mar 7, 2011 3:49 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
key word
assistant coach. we already tried to assistant coach route and look what that got us. he may be great at recruiting but that doesn’t mean he can coach.
"A job well done is better than a job well said."
by I bleed Red and Black on Mar 7, 2011 6:46 PM CST up reply actions
An absurdly highly paid assistant at a shady school with no history of recent success
no way this can go wrong
You should
interview 3-5 people, and I think it makes sense to include him……
"Trust your gut....mine always finds good Mexican food"
-Me
by oldschoolraider on Mar 7, 2011 10:28 PM CST up reply actions
Johnny Jones
from UNT should be interviewed by Hocutt as well. I would feel very good if he interviewed BCG, Hill and Jones and went with his gut (don’t let Hance decide). These 3 give you a good mix of experience and styles and should make for a solid choice.
"Trust your gut....mine always finds good Mexican food"
-Me
by oldschoolraider on Mar 7, 2011 11:30 AM CST up reply actions
Not picking him over Gillespie
But Kaspar at Stephen F Austin could be considered. He has always won at schools (UTSA and SFA) that do not support basketball strongly. The weakness is it probably would not excite the fan base initially.
ut is "The Evil Empire"
New AD had nothing to do with it...
kbohls kbohls
Pat Knight’s firing was TT prez Guy Bailey’s call. Outgoing AD Gerald Myers, who hired Bob Knight, tried to save Pat.
JD’s like, "you want some f*&#ing pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, b*#&hes!"- RCCook
LSB: "Oh s#*t, JD. You crazy!"
Unfreakinbelievable
Gerald is without a doubt a complete and total idiot.
Well-behaved women seldom make history. - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by Austin, Tx on Mar 7, 2011 12:02 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
NAME BRAND
Name Brand Football Coach…Need Name Brand Basketball Coach – BCG!
If you guys hire anyone besides BCG I will celebrate. BCG would give you immediate credibility and would turn you into a 20 game winner his first year there.
Maybe not year 1
But your sentiment is right. He’s perfect for us IMO.
Give 'Em Hell Tech!!!!!
by Plano Jeff on Mar 7, 2011 6:36 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Can pretty much guarantee he would year one
he will add some juco talent and you will win 13-15 games in non-conference
In the 17 years between Myers resigning. . .
. . . and PK taking over for Texas Tech midseason in 2007, the Men’s Basketball team:
- Reached the NCAA tournament on 6 occassions (including two Sweet 16 appearances)
- Generated a combined 302-205 record during Dickey’s and RMK’s tenures (59.6% winning percentage)
- Generated a combined 128-124 conference record during Dickey’s and RMK’s tenures (50.1% winning percentage)
(Dickey’s record is distorted by NCAA sanctions which were imposed across all sports due to academic compliance failures in the athletic department. Prior to the penalties which cost Texas Tech basketball 9 scholarships over his final four years, Dickey achieved a 117-57 record (67.2% winning percentage)
Contrast those results with Pat Knight’s performance during his 3 1/3 years at the helm of Texas Tech:
- 0 NCAA appearances
- 50-60 overall record (45.5% winning percentage)
- 16-42 overall conference record (27.6% winning percentage)
We have all the tools to become a relevant basketball program again. You only need one Andre Emmitt, Andy Ellis, Will Flemons, Marc Davis, Tony Benford to instantly become relevant again.
You need a coach who can either out-recruit (i.e. Dickey) or out-coach (i.e. RMK) the competition.
Pat Knight was unable to do either.
Here’s to being relevant again.
"This time it's different."
by LondonRaider on Mar 7, 2011 11:47 AM CST reply actions 3 recs
+1
"A job well done is better than a job well said."
by I bleed Red and Black on Mar 7, 2011 11:48 AM CST up reply actions
back to the sanctions...
how much of that was from issues under Dickey’s watch versus the end of Geralds…I was always under the impression it was Dickey’s, but had heard that the end of Geralds era was involved. Not that it matters, because I couldn’t think less of any homo sapien.
"Trust your gut....mine always finds good Mexican food"
-Me
by oldschoolraider on Mar 7, 2011 3:19 PM CST up reply actions
My understanding
is that there was a systemic compliance failure at the athletic department level which was then overseen by Bob Bockrath.
Violations were found involving nine different sports dating back to 1990 and included infractions of NCAA bylaws governing eligibility, extra benefits, recruiting, unethical conduct, failure to monitor and lack of institutional control.
Among the violations found by the committee was a lack of institutional control and procedures for monitoring the athletics program that permitted at least 76 individuals to compete while ineligible from 1990 to 1997. A number of student-athletes competed in NCAA championships competition while ineligible.
Texas Tech implemented self imposed penalties and the NCAA added additional restrictions.
The men’s basketball program was affected as follows:
# Reduction by seven in the number of total financial aid awards in men’s basketball during the 1998-99, 1999-2000, and 2000-2001 academic years, with a reduction of at least two (from 13 to 11) scholarships during each of the three academic years. (Texas Tech proposed a reduction of six scholarships over the three academic years.)
Gerald Myers was the assistant AD at the time, and led the process of cleaning up the mess and implementing the new NCAA guidelines. Bockrath moved onto Alabama where he was subsequently dismissed two years later.
Bockrath’s list of “”http://www.usatoday.com/sports/comment/jzcol11.htm" >transgressions" at Alabama included:
Bockrath’s mishaps outweighed his contributions to the athletic department.
* He was blamed for Gene Stallings’ decision to retire as football coach.
* He screwed up the ticket allotment for last year’s Music City Bowl. Nearly 10,000 season-ticket holders had their orders refunded because Bockrath put 1,800 tickets on sale to the public and didn’t limit the amount each Tide Pride member could buy. Bockrath was sued for fraud and also accused of trading a skybox in Bryant-Denny Stadium for a sweet deal on the lot where he built his home in Tuscaloosa. The suit was dismissed but the damage was done.
* He was criticized for switching from Coca Cola to Pepsi products at Alabama sporting events. Even though the school made more money with the deal, Bryant used to drink Coke on his weekly coach’s TV show.
* He was all business – earning him the nickname Bottom-Line Bob – but he was not at all a people person. That might work at another university. It did not work at Alabama.
Lesson learned at Alabama?: The Bear doesn’t do taste tests.
"This time it's different."
Glad the new guy wasn’t tasked with this…solid move by Bailey to get it over with before Hocutt started. Cleaner this way.
+1,000,000
tThis provides Hocutt with a clean slate to start out and he will be able to concentrate more on whom he wants to hire. I am liking Billy G., but there are some other names out there, so I hope Hocutt makes a solid decision. Hopefully it will also be done quickly, by the time the NCAA’s begin.
TTpilk
"Never, never, never give up." Winston Churchill
Riddle me this
""relieved of his duties," as head coach"
and
“Knight will continue to coach the team through the Big 12 Conference Championships.”
Seem to me to be two statements with opposing purposes.
Or am I going down that old road again?
If you are looking for consistency in public discourse
You are setting yourself up for a life of insanity. Idiocracy Rules. Roll with that & all will begin to make sense.
What is "Good-Strong" and why is there always so much more of it after a jump?
Idiocracy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSROlfR7WTo&feature=youtube_gdata_player
"Trust your gut....mine always finds good Mexican food"
-Me
by oldschoolraider on Mar 7, 2011 10:26 PM CST up reply actions
Mike Judge will be to the western world in 1000 years what Mohammed is to the middle east
He will be THE prophet of the decline & fall of western civilization. That movie is brilliant & two or three times a week I see something that reminds me that things are trending the way he predicts it in idiocracy.
What is "Good-Strong" and why is there always so much more of it after a jump?
Give Bubba a shot....
Yes, I’m an unabashed homer and I like Bubba. Great guy who LOVES Texas Tech and deserves a shot IMHO.
"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you." Woody Hayes
According to DoubleT FM 104.3 here in Lubbock
Pat Knight asked for a meeting this morning with Guy Bailey, to ascertain what the administration was going to do about the program. This would obviously involve PK’s employment status, as would be the employment of his staff.
The radio report included a reference to the mens’ basketball program’s pathetic draw at the gate.
It was time for a change.
supposedly
gettting his shit together
"Trust your gut....mine always finds good Mexican food"
-Me
by oldschoolraider on Mar 7, 2011 4:58 PM CST up reply actions
See the two articles linked above and this one:
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/02/15/1970319/billy-gillispie-is-ready-to-resume.html
And FWST’s Mike Jones, the same guy that wrote the FWST articles also wrote this today:
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/03/07/2902766/if-not-gillispie-tech-must-hire.html
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
Like Leach
I can’t help but recognize from the first link that Billy very much resembles Leach in many ways. Different game, but similar personality traits and coaching abilities. Like Billy, Leach has learned a great deal about himself over the last year. For him, it may take the finalization of his suits before he can return completely to the sport he loves. I think Gillespie has ’reinvented’self, whereas leach is still not there because, I feel, of the law suits. Since Gillespie has improved in many areas, I have a feeling he could make some noise in the Big-12-2 going forward with some very competitive teams. He is my preferable choice to succeed Pat Knight.
Unlike some, I don’t feel Bobby Knight will hold it against Tech for firing Pat. He is probably better aware of Pat’s shortcomings than anyone else and knew where things were headed as the season ended. Pat will need to hone his skills at a lesser institution for a couple or three years before he will be ready to take on a D-1 team again. And Leach? He will surface, probably after next football season, as a head coach somewhere. Time has a way of softening feelings and he will be looked at in a better light by then, just because.
TTpilk
"Never, never, never give up." Winston Churchill
I broached this this morning, but as long as we are speculating, what about luring Steve Alford over from New Mexico. All he does is win, and I’m guessing PK’s $1.7Mil salary would be quite a raise for him. Plus, it might soften the “blow” for Bobby—he might even help.
This one may be good but
Wasn’t Alford at Iowa before. And why did he leave the BIG 10 for New Mexico? I just didn’t know.
ut is "The Evil Empire"
Iowa yo-yo’d under Alford. He had three 20+ win seasons in eight years, but he was barely above .500 most of the others – never more than three games past break even point except for the 20-win years. He was sub-.500 in conference play in his tenure there, as well. No, I didn’t know that off the top of my head : )
But he’s been really, really good at UNM.
Don't think Alford would leave Albuquerque for Lubbock
He’s King here. Albuquerque is a basketball town and packs “The Pit” if the team is the least competitive. A few grumbles are being heard because of a disappointing year compared to last season, but most fans are still strongly behind him.
BTW, Bob Knight himself told me (I found myself sitting across the aisle from him on a Southwest flight out of Lubbock) that he was instrumental in getting Alford to UNM.
Gerald is still the athletic Director till may
He didn’t have the balls to fire his “buddies” son, so he had his boss do it for him…fucking pussy!
I think I have a rule not to use the “p” word or curse words regarding male and female genitalia.
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
Good reason for Myers to retire.
Seemed really odd for the school president to fire PK. Makes Gerald look like a potted plant—especially after being quoted in the AJ about how pleased he was with Curry (which I am too). Maybe he had a secret pact with RMK.
I’m glad to see PK moving on, but he’s at least showing some class in his comments today. Maybe he’s learned some lessons which will serve him well in his next job. Sometimes a coach has to go through something like this to enjoy success in his next job—AKA Jerry Moore at App. State. As for Tech basketball, BRING ON BILLY CLYDE!!! YEE-HAW! (Can you imagine all the Aggies freaking out—YES!)
BTW
Has anyone noticed that PK’s firing is not on the ESPN “newsticker” you see at the bottom of the screen of all their programs? Wonder if they don’t want to set off RMK. He might start cussing on air again!
Tony Benford
Buzz’s main assistant coach at Marquette is none other than Tony Benford. A former Red Raider great would certainly find the South Plains a great place to locate. Benford has been thought to be a strong candidate for a Head Coach Position and is widely known to be a talented recruiter.
Article about Tony and his time at Marquette and coaching resume. http://www.nbebasketball.com/w3/2009-0904/nbe-staff-support-series-tony-benford-marquette
http://www.gomarquette.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/benford_tony00.html
by idaho_techsan on Mar 7, 2011 10:18 PM CST up reply actions
True
It would appear that most on this board and Alumni would prefer the candidate to bring HC experience to the job. Personally I do feel that Billy Clyde is the right fit, but just like Horcutt would not touch Leach @ Miami because of past issues then maybe Gillispie is off his radar. Despite the clear efforts that Gillispie has put forth to change his issues with drinking.
I know Tony because he was my coach on a AAU and Junior High level, which is funny to say since it was 22 years ago. Beyond that fact, Tony has coached in the Pac 10, the Big 12 and the Big East over the past 20 years. He has a strong resume when it comes to recruiting, especially in Texas and the MidWest, think NBA talent like Eddie House & Kenny Thomas. Not to ramble on much further, he is an alumni and could re-connect the alumni base to the program since he was part of the team with Bubba Jennings and brought a SWC championship to Tech. Would just hate to see him land a HC spot somewhere and raise up a program that wasn’t Tech.
by idaho_techsan on Mar 8, 2011 5:32 PM CST up reply actions
Idaho
I think you must know my brother….he also played for Tony on those AAU teams. Tony is indeed a great guy…
"This time it's different."
by LondonRaider on Mar 10, 2011 9:40 AM CST up reply actions
Do you think that Marquette is a better basketball job than Texas Tech? I’ve always like Buzz, and he knows Texas, but he’s the king of the hill at Marquette.
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
Marquette is in the Big East
Which, though they suck at football, is a tough basketball conference. Marquette is routinely fighting for 6th place.Come to Tech, and you’re looking at routinely being in the top 3. Plus, it’s better than Milwaukee. It may be a toss up as fsr as the job. I’m not sure how the salary would compare. We’d be selling coming home to Texas, a bigger university, better facilities, and a better shot at winning the conference.
Thanks to pat
For being a pro…I do think he is a good guy and can become a good coach elsewhere. Blaze your own path and good luck.
"Trust your gut....mine always finds good Mexican food"
-Me
by oldschoolraider on Mar 7, 2011 10:20 PM CST reply actions
+1 I appreciate his work at Tech and for being mature during this situation. Some coaches would have made a mess of this. Hopefully he will do great in his next venture.
by ST04 on Mar 7, 2011 10:47 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
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