Knight decries Brand's words

Former basketball coach Bob Knight waived confidentiality rights to his personnel file and denounced statements by IU President Myles Brand as "false and misleading" in an affidavit filed Wednesday in the Indiana Court of Appeals.\nKnight also said he'd like more information about what led to his firing in September 2000 for violations of a "zero-tolerance" policy.\n"I am as interested as anyone in discovering the exact conversations held between Myles Brand and the trustees of Indiana University ..." Knight said in the affidavit, obtained by the IDS Wednesday.\nThe document was filed as part of a lawsuit claiming the University violated Indiana's Open Door Laws when it fired Knight.\nThe lawsuit, filed by a group of 46 Knight supporters, alleges Brand acted outside his authority in firing the former Hall of Fame coach. Brand met with two groups of four trustees before firing Knight.\nIU Spokeswoman Susan Dillman said the University finds nothing new in the affidavit.\n"We disagree with (Knight's) allegations and conclusions with regard to his dismissal," Dillman said. "Again, it's in the courts so there's nothing else we could say."\nIn the sworn statement, Knight maintains he was told he could only be fired if a majority from the board voted in favor of terminating him. His original contract, dated 1972, was extended in 1982.\nIn 1987, the board of trustees passed a resolution giving then-president Tom Ehrlich the authority to "execute" employee contracts. Knight said he was not aware of the change when agreeing to an extension of his contract in 1989.\n"Had I, at any time between June 28, 1982 and September 10, 2000, been asked if I would agree to any assignment or delegation of the provisions...of my contract with the Trustees of Indiana University, I would have refused," Knight said in the affidavit.\nThe document shows that Knight could be terminated only by the board of trustees, said Roy Graham, plaintiffs' associate counsel.\n"The affidavit shows that Knight would have not accepted the extension of his contract if he knew Brand could have fired him at will," Graham said.\nAttorneys representing the University have refused to release Knight's personnel file. By waiving his confidentiality right, Knight permits all records concerning his termination to be released.\nIn May 2000, Knight was suspended for three games, fined $30,000 and placed on "zero tolerance" by the board of trustees for choking a former player. At that point, Knight said, it seemed that Brand wanted him gone.\n"I suggested to (Brand) that a three-game suspension seemed unreasonable, and his entire demeanor changed," Knight said in his affidavit. "'Are you going to resign then?' he asked eagerly. He seemed disappointed when I said that I would not."\nHe said Brand called him on Sept. 8 and asked him to postpone a trip to Canada he had planned for the following day.\nKnight refused, but said he told Brand he could be reached by telephone while out of town. He alleges Brand then told the board of trustees that Knight's refusal constituted an "instance of gross insubordination." Knight refuted this claim, saying Brand never asked him to appear before the board.\nKnight also refutes Brand's statement that Knight was unwilling to work within the "normal chain of command" in the IU athletics department. Knight's written contract allowed him "approval of all matters associated with Men's Varsity Basketball" including games and practices, selection of radio and television announcers and staff selection, according to the affidavit.\nKnight also stated he did not verbally abuse University Counsel Dottie Frapwell, another reason Brand gave for firing the coach. Knight said he and Accountant Bob Shine met with Frapwell to discuss the $30,000 fine and later consulted with her concerning an "unrelated matter." He said he then asked Frapwell to leave his office so he could finish speaking with another attorney.\nKnight also contends he was never given specifics about the "zero-tolerance" policy imposed on him.\nFrapwell did not return a phone call by press time Wednesday.\nAn official with the Texas Tech University, where Knight now coaches, said Knight was unavailable for comment Wednesday. Knight's lawyer, Russell Yates, of Denver, did not return a phone call.\nThe plaintiffs hope the affidavit persuades the appeals court to send the case back for a full trial, where University officials could be called to testify. In August, a Jeffersonville judge sided with IU and sent the case to the Indiana Court of Appeals.