Indiana to Erect Statue Honoring Legendary Coach Bob Knight

The university will place the statue next to statues of the 1976 undefeated national championship team.

Feb. 10, 2026 at 8:39am

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Indiana University announced plans to build a statue honoring legendary basketball coach Bob Knight, who led the Hoosiers to three national titles and an undefeated season in 1976. The statue will be placed next to statues of the top six players from that 1976 championship team.

Why it matters

Bob Knight is considered one of the most successful and influential college basketball coaches of all time. His tenure at Indiana was marked by both tremendous success on the court as well as controversies off it. The statue will serve as a lasting tribute to his legacy and impact on the sport.

The details

The university plans to put the statue of Knight next to a set of statues depicting the top six players from the 1975-76 team that went 32-0 -- Quinn Buckner, Scott May, Ken Benson, Bobby Wilkerson, Jim Crews and Tom Abernathy. Knight led Indiana to national titles in 1976, 1981 and 1987, and produced a 662-239 record in 29 seasons at the school.

  • Knight coached the Hoosiers for 29 seasons, from 1971 to 2000.
  • The 1975-76 Indiana team that went 32-0 was the last undefeated men's Division I basketball team.
  • Knight died in 2023 at the age of 83.

The players

Bob Knight

Legendary basketball coach who led Indiana University to three national championships and an undefeated season in 1976.

Quinn Buckner

One of the six Indiana players from the 1975-76 undefeated national championship team who will be honored with a statue.

Scott May

One of the six Indiana players from the 1975-76 undefeated national championship team who will be honored with a statue.

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What they’re saying

“Coach Knight's influence on the game of basketball is immeasurable, but his impact on this university and Hoosier basketball fans is even deeper.”

— Scott Dolson, Indiana Athletic Director (statenews.net)

What’s next

The bronze statue will be paid for by a private donor, and the university has not announced a timeline for when the statue will be completed and unveiled.

The takeaway

The statue of Bob Knight will serve as a lasting tribute to one of the most successful and influential college basketball coaches of all time, honoring both his tremendous on-court achievements as well as his lasting impact on Indiana University and the sport of basketball.