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Posted at 3:39 p.m., Monday, February 4, 2008

Bob Knight resigns; son will take over Texas Tech

By Betsy Blaney
Associated Press

LUBBOCK, Texas — Bob Knight resigned today at Texas Tech, a stunning midseason move by the winningest men's coach in major college basketball.

"He said he was tired and that it was best to go ahead and do it now," Texas Tech chancellor Kent Hance told The Associated Press. "I think Bob is through with coaching. I think he got to the point where it wasn't fun for him."

Known as much for his fiery temper as his basketball brilliance, Knight gave no hint a change was coming. He will be replaced by his son, Pat, a Red Raiders assistant.

The 67-year-old Knight informed Texas Tech athletic director Gerald Myers of his decision in a meeting around noon, Hance said. Knight then called Hance and told him.

"He thought about it Sunday all day and talked to his wife and decided 'This is something I want to do,"' Hance said.

The Red Raiders beat Oklahoma State 67-60 on Saturday, giving Knight his 902nd victory.

Knight was not available for comment today, said Randy Farley, a spokesman for the Texas Tech basketball program.

The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal first reported the resignation.

In September, Knight signed a three-year contract extension that runs through the 2011-12 season. In 2005, Pat Knight was appointed his father's successor.

Bob Knight has 902 career wins, more than any coach in the history of Division I men's basketball. Win No. 900 came last month against Texas A&M.

Knight arrived at Texas Tech in March 2001, six months after being fired by Indiana for what school officials there called a "pattern of unacceptable behavior."

In his first six years at Tech, he led the Red Raiders to five 20-win seasons, a first at the school. They are 12-8 this season. Texas Tech's next game is Wednesday night at Baylor.

Knight passed former North Carolina coach Dean Smith as the winningest Division I coach Jan. 1, 2007, getting career win No. 880. To celebrate the milestone Knight chose "My Way" by Frank Sinatra, a mantra for how he navigated his personal and professional worlds.

"Bob is kind of a funny guy. He always loved that song `My Way,' and this is another example," Hance said.

Knight has been a head coach for 42 years at three Division I schools. He got his 100th victory at Army, then moved to Indiana, where his Hoosiers went 662-239 and won three national championships from 1971-2000.

His first NCAA title came in 1976 when Indiana went undefeated, a feat no team has done since. In 1984, he coached the U.S. Olympic team to a gold medal in Los Angeles.

He began his coaching career in 1965 at Army, where at 24 he was the youngest-ever Division I coach. Knight won 20 or more games in 29 seasons.

Associated Press writer Jeff Carlton in Dallas contributed to this report.