BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Private donors are giving $75,000 to Bob Knight to settle a lawsuit he filed against Indiana University claiming it didn't properly defend him when he was sued by a former assistant coach.

A letter signed by lawyers for the university and Knight says the payment offer from anonymous donors would reimburse the former coach for expenses from the lawsuit by former Knight assistant Ron Felling.

Knight settled with Felling in 2002 by paying him $25,000 and admitting that in 1999 he shoved Felling in anger after overhearing him criticize Knight's coaching and behavior.

The letter states the settlement doesn't obligate Knight to attend the Nov. 6 ceremony during which he'll be inducted into Indiana's athletics Hall of Fame. Indiana fired Knight in 2000.

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Information from: The Herald Times, http://www.heraldtimesonline.com