Bobby Knight wants the Minnesota job!

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 3/15/2007

 CHICAGO— Last week, before the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament in Chicago, Joel Maturi, athletic director at the University of Minnesota, was asked by the Star Tribune who might be the Gophers next head basketball coach. He firmly denied that any offer had been extended to former Gopher and current Detroit Pistons Coach Flip Saunders.

 Saunders is believed by many to be the runaway choice of the boosters and alumni. “I’m trying to do things by the book,” said Maturi. “What I mean by that is that, if I’m going to talk to a present head coach, I’m going to talk to his athletic director prior to me speaking to him, because I think that’s the appropriate thing to do. I can’t make that call to anyone who is a present head coach until their season is done. I don’t want to jeopardize their season. I don’t want to jeopardize their position at their campus.”

 I believe that Maturi, a graduate of Notre Dame, might have gotten word that Bobby Knight, the former Indiana basketball coach and current Texas Tech coach, would leave Texas Tech in a heartbeat to take the vacant Minnesota job. Why would the winningest coach in college basketball history want the Minnesota job?

 Knight has three desires left in his career: one, to get back in the Big Ten; two, his son would succeed him at Texas Tech — that’s already been agreed on; and three, he believes he can recruit and win at Minnesota now because of his familiarity with the conference, and he’s burning to stick it to Indiana .

 It’s not about the money with Knight; he has plenty already. He simply loves the Big Ten. He can draw players to Minnesota that would never consider going to the Twin Cities. He would right away clean up the credibility issues that linger from the days of Clem Haskins and academic fraud. And, tickets would be sold out tomorrow.

 Knight has taken 28 teams to the NCAA tournament — that’s the most all-time. He has won three NCAA crowns with a record of 45-22. Indiana has been to the NCAA tournament 34 times, the most of any Big-Ten school in history. Most of those were under Knight.

 The last undefeated team in NCAA history was Indiana in 1976, 32-0 under Bobby Knight. The man can recruit; remember, he had Larry Bird at Indiana before he left for Indiana State .

 He has won 20 or more games at Texas Tech three years in a row; that’s the first time in school history. Also, he led them to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances for the first time in school history.

 Knight started at Army 40 years ago and is obviously a legend. He also brings baggage that is well documented; he has abused players and officials and is famous for his arrogance. He is who he is, but he’s a winner and would put the Gophers program in the national spotlight overnight.  

Like him or not, he wants the job. I’ve been told by a very reliable source that if he were offered the job he would take it. He loves the outdoors, hunting and fishing in Minnesota , and at this stage of his career, if it were my choice to make, I would hire him now.

 So, Joel Maturi, before you close the door, make a call to Texas Tech; you do owe them one. Minnesota needs major help. This program needs a special coach, one of the best in history, and his name is Bobby Knight. It’s a no-brainer.

 Saunders is under contract anyway, and he told me recently he has his dream job now with the Pistons. Detroit had the best record in the NBA last year and will likely be the team to beat in the Eastern Conference playoffs now by picking up Chris Webber and considering the fact that Miami may or may not get Dwyane Wade back for the playoffs.

 Whether Detroit wins the NBA championship or not, my sources tell me that this will be Saunders’ last year on the job, and as soon as the season is over he will be coming to Minnesota . But if Knight wants it — and I’m convinced he does — then the Gophers should make him their new head coach and become a major player in the Big Ten Conference.     

 Fitz Notes & Quotes

Wayne Duke, former commissioner of the Big Ten Conference, gave a thumbs-up to the potential choice of Jim Brewer, the former Gopher great, as the next head basketball coach at the U of M. “That would be a good choice,” said Duke. “He’s a good man. Boy, they [the U of M] have had a tough time with that program, and it’s going to take the right man to help turn it around.”

 Steve Lavin, ABC/ESPN basketball analyst and former UCLA head basketball coach, was working the Big Ten Tournament when I asked if he would like to coach again. “It would have to be a good fit and make sense,” he replied.

 “My parents are very important to me and have some health concerns; being close to them is important for me. I’m enjoying my work at ABC/ESPN, and they just last year extended my contract from four to six years. Last year I was offered the North Carolina State job and passed on it.

 “ Minnesota is an intriguing job,” Lavin said, “because of the conference — Big Ten — the talent and recruiting base. However, on philosophy, the infrastructure, the administration’s visions for the program, we would have to have the same alignment.”

  Indianapolis beats Chicago again

It was just a month ago that the Colts beat the Bears 29-17 in Super Bowl XLI. Well, Chicago , the city with broad shoulders, has lost another big one.

Covering the Big Ten Tournament since its inception has been one of my favorite assignments. The tournament has rotated every other year between Chicago and Indianapolis . I was born not far from the United Center and raised in Chicago , so it’s always great to go home.

When the tournament is held in Indianapolis , that’s good also, because I went to college at Indiana State University , where I was the most famous Larry on campus until some guy named Larry Bird arrived. Terre Haute , Indiana , is about an hour away from Indianapolis .

Well, Indianapolis outbid Chicago for the Big Ten Tournament rights for the next five years, a big loss for the city. Apparently Chicago let its guard down, focusing on its bid for the 2016 Olympic games.