Knight's achievements honored in HOF ceremony

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) - In an interview with 24-Hour News 8 the year he was fired from Indiana University, Bob Knight said he wasn't prepared when he was hired in 1971 for the "intense interest there would be in basketball at Indiana University."

Poignant words from Knight. Thus began a love affair with Hoosier faithful that ended in a belated IU Hall of Fame induction.

Hear more from Knight's interview by clicking on the video link in the left margin of the story. Also, click on the Photo tab to see several images chronicling Knight's career at IU.

Most remember the ugly way it all unraveled with Myles Brand's zero tolerance policy that resulted in his firing. But the numbers, records, championships and notoriety Knight brought Indiana are unmatched. He’s captured 661 victories, 11 Big Ten titles and the NCAA championships in 1976, 1981 and 1987.

Knight is still the only coach in history to lead teams to NCAA, NIT, Pan-American and Olympic championships.

In the sit down interview with former WISH-TV news anchor Mike Ahern, the coach was asked if he thought he was too tough on his players.

"I don't look back at everything I've done on this basketball floor and say it was the right thing to do at that time," said the embattled bench boss.

Knight's still the last coach to have a perfect season. He's mentored 16 All-America players, 29 who played in the NBA. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1991 and stands as the coach with the most wins in college basketball history.

"If, when it comes down to the final analysis of me, the biggest problem that people see in me is language, I'll be able to look at myself and say I did a pretty damn good job when I was here," Knight told Ahern.

For Knight fans and foes alike, that's hard to deny.