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Bob Knight's Son, Pat, Resigns From Head Coaching Position

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Feb 3, 2026 11:59 AM ET

Pat Knight resigned as Marian's men's basketball head coach on Monday.

Knight, the son of legendary college coach Bobby Knight, told Nat Newell and Dana Hunsinger Benbow of the Indianapolis Star that he stepped down after a school administrator asked him to fire an unidentified employee.

"I quit today. They wanted me to fire a staff member, and I didn't want to," Knight said. "When the administration starts trying to tell you what to do, nah, I've been there before."

Knight told 13News WTHR reporter Samantha Johnson that the school had already dismissed one of his other staffers without his approval.

"When administration starts messing around with your staff and talking about x's and o's and stuff like that, it's a red flag," Knight said. "They got rid of one of my assistants without asking me. They wanted me to fire my other assistant, and I just don't do that, so I quit."

'Life's too short to put up with that'

Marian Head Coach Pat Knight instructs his team during the the Indiana versus Marian men's basketball game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024.Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Pat Knight went 16-34 since becoming Marian's head coach in 2024. The Knights fell to 5-17 after Saturday's 75-74 loss to Goshen, which had previously lost 54 consecutive NAIA games.

Although he didn't throw any chairs, Knight got ejected from his final game with Marian. The 55-year-old, who was previously a college scout for the Indiana Pacers, considered returning to a career outside of coaching.

"I always wanted to go out on my own," Knight told the Indianapolis Star. "I'm glad to be back home in Indianapolis. Hopefully, I'll get back into the NBA scouting. I'm too old. Life's too short to put up with that bull****."

Knight went 50-61 after replacing Bobby Knight at Texas Tech before going to Lamar in 2012. He led the Cardinals to the NCAA tournament after winning the Southland Conference in a 23-12 season.

However, Lamar won just three games under Knight in each of the ensuing two seasons before firing him in 2014. He spent a decade away from coaching before landing Marian's job last year.

Knight also worked as an assistant in the Continental and International Basketball Associations. He made the 1992 Final Four as a player for his father's Indiana Hoosiers.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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