Pat Knight resigned as basketball coach at Marian University, an NAIA program in Indianapolis. Knight said he made the decision after "administration" told him to fire an employee.
"I quit today. They wanted me to fire a staff member, and I didn't want to," Knight told IndyStar on Monday evening. "When the administration starts trying to tell you what to do, nah, I've been there before."
Knight went out in style all-too-reminiscent of his late father, legendary Indiana coach Bob Knight. Knight was ejected from the Jan. 31 game against Goshen in the first half. He however, did not throw a chair.
Pat Knight….at least he didn’t throw a chair. @SportsCenter#nottop10pic.twitter.com/oArQ7l1Deg
— Matt Traylor (@traylor_matt) January 31, 2026
It would be Knight's final game as Marian coach. The Knights lost 75-74, snapping Goshen's 54-game conference losing streak and a 19-game losing streak to Marian.
Knight declined to name the staff member administration wanted him to fire. IndyStar reached out to Marian athletic director Steve Downing for comment on Knight's resignation but did not immediately receive a response.
"I always wanted to go out on my own," Knight said. "I'm glad to be back home in Indianapolis. Hopefully, I'll get back into the NBA scouting. I'm too old. Life's too short to put up with that bull(crap)."
Knight was 16-34, 7-23 in the Crossroads League, after taking over in 2024.
Knight was 79-123 as a Division I coach, succeeding his father at Texas Tech during the 2007-08 season and posting one winning record — 19-16 in 2009-10 — in four seasons. He was at Lamar for three seasons, going 23-12 in 2011-12, winning the Southland Conference regular season and conference championships to make the NCAA tournament. But Knight then went 6-50 his final two seasons.
Knight also spent 10 years as a scout for the Indiana Pacers, was an assistant in the basketball operations staff for the Suns then served as an assistant in the Continental and International Basketball Associations, as well as Texas Tech, Akron and IU. Knight lettered for four seasons Indiana, and was a member of the 1992 Final Four team.
IndyStar sports director Nat Newell contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Bobby Knight's son, Pat Knight, quit as Marian basketball coach