Counting down the worst Texas Tech coaches of the Big 12 era

No. 4: Pat Knight

If following in the footsteps of a legend is tough, it has to be even more impossible to follow in the footsteps of your legendary father as Pat Knight tried to do in 2008.

When Bob Knight unexpectedly stepped aside with eleven games to go in the 2008 season, Tech turned to Knight who was always perceived as the successor to the throne.  But he found that seat to be rather uncomfortable.

Overall, Knight was just 50-62 at Tech and a dreadful 16-42 in Big 12 play.  His .276 winning percentage in league play is the worst of any Red Raider head coach who had multiple seasons on the job and third-worst overall.

In three-plus years as the man in charge, he never went to the NCAA Tournament and made the NIT just once (2010).  That was despite having some fantastic players such as John Roberson and Mike Singletary on his roster.

Knight simply didn’t have the grasp of the game’s nuances that his father did.  But in fairness, few men who have ever coached the game have.

But he also tried to change the way Tech played as he wanted his team to push the pace and play a more contemporary style of basketball.  That led to sloppiness and a lack of discipline and with each passing year, Tech fell further and further away from the principals of the Bob Knight era.

Pat Knight’s overall winning percentage at Tech was just .450.  That’s the fourth-worst in program history and the worst since 1927 for a Red Raider head coach who had multiple years in charge.  Thus, he certainly deserves a spot on this dubious countdown.