On Wednesday, Marian Director of Athletics Steve Downing officially announced the hiring of Pat Knight as the next Marian men’s basketball head coach. Knight, the son of legendary coach Bob Knight, is the 10th head coach in program history.
Here’s what Knight, Downing and others with IU basketball connections had to say about the news, via release by Marian Athletics.
PAT KNIGHT:
“I’m really excited to get back into coaching at Marian University,” said Pat Knight on being named the Knights head coach. “I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this for 10 years. I look forward to working with Steve Downing and President (Dan) Elsener in any way I can to keep Marian University an elite university. I will work hard to have a team that the state of Indiana can be proud of.
It’s great to be back home in Indiana!”
STEVE DOWNING:
“I am very proud and excited to name Pat Knight as our next basketball coach,” said Director of Athletics Steve Downing. “Pat and I have been close for several years having watched him grow up as a player and coach in my time at Indiana and Texas Tech, and I am once again thrilled to be working with him. We look forward to everything Pat will do for our program, and I am excited for the opportunity our players have to play for him.”
RYAN CARR:
(Carr is the Vice President of Player Personnel for the Indiana Pacers and a former IU basketball manager under Bob Knight)
What an exciting day for Marian University. Hiring Pat Knight as Head Coach is going to bring a spotlight on an already high-level basketball program. President Elsener, Mr. Downing and the hiring committee have hired the right man for the job. Basketball in Indiana means more, and no one knows that better than Pat, who was raised in the epicenter of it all. Pat will certainly coach the team well, recruit student-athletes that represent Marian with integrity and graduate his players, but he will quickly become a beloved member of the athletic department and university. Pat has been an integral member of our Pacers scouting staff for the past ten years, but I couldn’t be more excited for the Knights – Pat and Marian University. Pat is back on the sidelines where he belongs. We will miss Pat and Amanda being a part of our organization, but I can’t wait to see the motion offense back in action for years to come at Marian. I will be at every game I am able to attend.
MIKE WOODSON:
I am really excited for Pat Knight, Steve Downing, and the basketball program at Marian. Pat is a great young man, an exceptional coach, and will do wonderful things while coming home to work for such a great University
SCOTT DOLSON:
“This is a great day for Marian University with the announcement of Pat Knight’s hiring as the program’s new Men’s Basketball coach. Pat is a brilliant basketball mind who has a long track record of success at the highest levels of college basketball. He’s also been a tremendous friend to me for more than 30 years, and it’s wonderful to welcome him and his wife, Amanda, back to the state of Indiana. Knowing Pat as well as I do, I know that very good things are ahead for Marian University Men’s Basketball.”
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