Former IU men’s basketball coach Bob Knight returned to IU’s campus Saturday afternoon to take in a baseball game at Bart Kaufman Field.
The 78-year-old Knight arrived prior to the start of IU’s afternoon doubleheader against Penn State, marking his first public and most visible appearance on campus since he was fired in September 2000 and spoke to a crowd in Dunn Meadow.
He entered the stadium on a golf cart driven by an IU official, and was followed in another golf cart by former Herald-Times sports editor Bob Hammel and IU Deputy Director of Athletics Scott Dolson.
Knight watched the game from a suite inside the stadium press box.
As he entered the suite, Knight said “it’s nice being here.”
During his time at IU, Knight led the men’s basketball program to three national championships over his 29-year career.
The Hoosiers also reached five Final Fours under Knight and won 11 Big Ten Regular Season titles.
IU Athletic Director Fred Glass told the Herald-Times in a text message he was happy to help Knight attend the baseball game, but hadn’t talked to him yet and didn’t expect to.
Last week, Knight and Hammel spoke at Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Indiana, as part of the event “An Evening With Bob Knight.”
Similar events occurred in recent years in locations around the state, including at Bloomington High School South and Bloomington High School North.
Last year, an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, "The Last Days of Knight," was released chronicling Knight's downfall and dismissal from IU.
In a 2017 interview on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Knight said he would have “no interest in ever going back to that university,” referencing IU.
