After Bob Goes Raiders Staying Pat

Ryan Rigdon, staff writer

The Texas Tech men’s basketball program has insured that the Knight name will remain a huge component of Red Raider basketball for a long time.

Texas Tech Athletic Director Gerald Myers insured stability in the program by naming Texas Tech assistant coach Pat Knight as head coach designate of the Red Raiders. (Pat) Knight signed a five-year contract to serve as the next head coach at Texas Tech, a contract that will be implemented as soon as his dad, Bob Knight, decides to retire, whenever that may be.

The Red Raider basketball program couldn’t have made a better move at a more crucial time.

Let’s face it, Bob Knight isn’t exactly a young man any longer. This is common knowledge to any basketball follower, including recruits. The Red Raiders were starting to find that recruiting was becoming more and more difficult with each passing year (Bob) Knight was at the helm.

Who wants to sign their life over to a coach and his program for four years, when frankly, it’s possible it might not even be the same coach or program, he signed his letter of intent with. Therefore not meeting the kids expectations of the university/program.

Accepting a scholarship to a program is also accepting a ticket to your future. Prior to this commitment to Pat Knight by the university, a young player’s future was uncertain at Texas Tech. However, that is no longer a concern, and that concern has been flip-flopped into a positive tool for recruiting. Players now realize that regardless of which Knight is their coach, they will be playing under the same coaching philosophy that has made the Knights, one of the most prestigious names in all of college basketball.

Texas Tech fans are just now becoming accustomed to a winning tradition in basketball. Since the arrival of the Knight family in Lubbock, the Red Raiders have had four consecutive 20-plus win seasons and two back-to-back trips to the NCAA tournament, including last year’s run to the Sweet 16.

This is just the start of a program that will eventually have a very history-rich tradition. Why?

 First, take the Bob Knight name, his three national championships, and his worldwide fame. Second, throw out all the garbage and Knight antics that have accumulated over the years. Next, throw in a younger, hungrier version of himself, and what have you got? Pat Knight.

The youthful Knight will be able to reel in the recruits that his father missed due to a direct reflection of his past. The head coach designate already runs most of the Red Raiders’ practices, so it is easy to assume that he ‘can’ coach basketball and put his players in great situations to win, much like his father.

Assuming Texas Tech’s heir can coach and recruit, I do not expect Texas Tech to be a stepping-stone for Pat Knight. His father has already set up a great program, with outstanding facilities at a university that competes in a major conference, the Big 12. It will be extremely hard for the son of Bob Knight to not succeed. Maybe one day, Texas Tech will play in the United Spirit Arena on the “Knight Court”. 

A flourishing relationship between Texas Tech and the Knights might just be the start of a prominent tradition and career for the Texas Tech basketball program and Pat Knight.