|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Coach with conditions IU's Brand: Knight can stay, under new ground rules
Posted: Tuesday May 16, 2000 07:22 AM
INDIANAPOLIS (CNNSI.com) -- Indiana University basketball coach Bob Knight, rocked by growing charges of misconduct toward players, coaches and university personnel, will keep his job after agreeing to a series of disciplinary guidelines announced Monday by school president Myles Brand. The reprimands include a $30,000 fine and a three-game suspension and must be accompanied by apologies for some of the alleged incidents. Brand also announced that the school will adopt a new "zero tolerance" policy toward Knight for any future misconduct. Any violations will result in an immediate dismissal. "I think the ethical approach is to give him one last chance," Brand said at a news conference. "He has given me his word that he will take extraordinary steps to change behavior." Knight, 59, who has been head coach at IU for the past 29 years, was not immediately available for comment but released a statement which was read at the news conference. "President Myles Brand, in a meeting with me, gave me a set of guidelines he expects me to follow if I want to continue as IU's basketball coach. I have absolutely no problem with the guidelines," said Knight. The announcement was the culmination of a two-month investigation into Knight's behavior, prompted by a CNN/Sports Illustrated report in which former player Neil Reed alleged that Knight choked him at a 1997 practice. The run-in with Reed was captured on videotape and broadcast by the network in a second story in April.
Walda said the inquiry, which included interviews with 29 people and help from a private investigator and a videotape expert, did not conclude that Reed was choked. But Walda said that Knight clearly grabbed Reed by the neck, and that in itself was wrong. "[It was] clearly inappropriate action," trustee John D. Walda said, "and one that cannot be tolerated. "We are resolved that if coach Knight persists in this type of contact, it will not be tolerated." Athletic director Clarence Doninger, who was involved in a fight with Knight after a loss to Ohio State in February, expressed skepticism the coach will be able to change his behavior. Doninger also said he was annoyed that he had not been included in the decision-making process. "I wasn't involved in the deliberation process, and I wasn't involved in the decision-making," he said. "I do feel that I should have been involved." He was asked for his opinion of the agreement. "My personal opinion is irrelevant at this point," he said. Some faculty also were skeptical that Knight will change. "It's going to continue and continue," said English professor Murray Sperber, an outspoken critic of Knight. "This is a horrible hit for the image of the university." Indiana player Dane Fife attended the news conference and said he was pleased with the outcome. "Everyone should be happy," he said. "We got our coach, and people who made the allegations got him in trouble." University trustees met in a 2-hour, 20-minute meeting Sunday that university vice president Christopher Simpson described as "candid" and "thorough." The trustees recommended a course of action for Brand, who made the final decision he announced Monday. At least one new allegation of misconduct by Knight against IU players, coaches and university personnel was heard as late as Sunday's meeting. Any new allegations would join a growing list that includes the charge by Reed, a report that Knight threatened 64-year-old athletics department secretary Jeanette Hartgraves, that he fought with former assistant coach Ron Felling and that he attacked a former IU sports information director. Knight has agreed to formally apologize to Hartgraves.
Other than releasing a statement this weekend apologizing for a temper he says often gets the best of him -- but refusing to apologize for any specific incident -- Knight had declined comment. He met with Brand for two hours Saturday night at the president's residence on the Bloomington campus after cutting short a fishing vacation in the Bahamas. A university spokesman described the meeting between the two as "vigorous." "The conversation I had with Bob was clearly unique," he said. "I had never seen him before contrite and apologetic." He said he had considered firing Knight. "As the discussion proceeded and Bob expressed the view that he very much wanted to change his behavior ... then we began to talk about sanctions," Brand said. One of the allegations against Knight claimed that he actually ordered Brand out of a practice. Walda said Monday that the investigation concluded that never happened. Also Monday, Walda said the investigation could not verify Reed's account of Knight brandishing a piece of soiled toilet paper in front of his players. Knight could have been fired "for cause" or "without cause," according to a copy of his contract that was obtained by The Indianapolis Star. If he was fired "without cause," the school would have to pay the remaining two years on his contract at $163,118 a year. He must be given formal notice, and has the right to respond, if he is fired "for cause." A final notice would then come within 60 days. The university trustees were described as "grim-faced" after leaving Sunday's meeting. Walda, president of the nine-member board and one of the two who investigated the Reed allegations, looked somber. "The process has been," he said, "productive ..."
According to the directive Brand issued to the board in March, the investigation could have continued for another month. However, Simpson declared the investigation over Sunday, just shortly after the newest allegations surfaced. When asked Monday, Brand and trustees said the issue of Knight's behavior could have been dealt with better in the past. "The university should have dealt with Bob Knight before," said trustee Cora Smith Breckenridge. "We are probably somewhat responsible for the lack of anger management that he has displayed for 29 years." The Associated Press contributed to this report.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
