Pat Knight set to take over for Dad at Texas Tech [Archive]

POJO_Risin

09-24-2005, 06:13 PM

Heir apparent
Report: Pat Knight could be next Tech coach
Posted: Friday September 23, 2005 5:33PM; Updated: Saturday September 24, 2005 12:02PM

LUBBOCK, Texas (Ticker) - Although Bobby Knight has not talked about retirement, Texas Tech appears close to having his successor.

The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported Friday that Pat Knight has agreed to a five-year contract with the school that will make him the men's basketball coach once his legendary father steps down.

According to the report, the contract still awaits final approval from the Board of Regents. If it is approved, Pat Knight will assume the position of coach designate.

This is the same title that Sean Sutton has under his father Eddie at Oklahoma State. Sean, who played four years under his father at Kentucky and Oklahoma State, was an assistant under Eddie Sutton for 10 years before being named coach designate in May 2004.

When making the announcement, Oklahoma State officials stated that they wanted a smooth transition when Eddie Sutton retired.

Pat Knight's situation has been very similar to that of Sean Sutton's, playing four years under his father at Indiana in the early 1990s before receiving an assistant role in his dad's program in 1999.

Knight did have some positions away from his famous father, working as an administrative assistant and scout with the Phoenix Suns in 1995 and got his first coaching job with Wisconsin of the International Basketball Association in 1998.

Bobby Knight, who is about to begin his 40th season as a college coach, is under contract through May 2009 after signing a three-year contract extension last September.

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