Bob Knight ‘means the world’ to arguably his greatest disciple, Ole Miss’ Chris Beard
There’s arguably no greater Bob Knight disciple than Ole Miss men’s basketball coach Chris Beard.
Beard was an assistant for seven of Knight’s 29 total seasons, in a career that dates back to 1965. Knight, whose Hall of Fame career was highlighted by three national titles at Indiana, died this week at the age of 83.
Knight spent his final seasons leading Texas Tech, one of three programs Beard has led to the NCAA Tournament since 2016. Ole Miss, which hired him in March, would be his fourth. Beard took the Red Raiders to the national title game in 2019.
“I lost my own father in June,” Beard said Thursday, in his first public comments following Knight’s passing. “I think it’s accurate to say, besides my own father, nobody’s had more impact on my life than Bob Knight.
“They took a chance on me as a junior college coach in 2000. Not only gave me that opportunity, but really just empowered me and gave me the confidence to know I could coach at this level and win at this level.
“Coach means the world.”
RELATED: Indiana holds moment of silence for Bob Knight after death
Knight’s impact on Beard extends far beyond the court.
Still, few were most distinguished as floor leaders. Knight’s teams appeared in 28 NCAA tournaments, five Final Fours, and won three national championships. His finished with 899 career wins and a career winning percentage of .706.
Knight hired Beard at Tech in 2001. Beard was essentially with Knight every day for seven seasons, including countless lunches, just the two of them, waxing philosophical on everything from life to basketball.
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“There’s just so many sides of him that nobody knows about or they don’t talk about enough,” Beard said. “Fiercely loyal. As loyal a human being that has ever lived. Just always there.
“He didn’t live his life in a self-promoting way. But loyal. So giving. He did so many things for so many people — charities and money he would give and time he would give. He’d do anything for a cause; he just didn’t want anybody to know that. He’s one of the most giving human beings that’s ever lived. Somebody was in need, he never said no.”
Beard’s Ole Miss Rebels open the 2023-24 season on Monday against Alabama State at 7 p.m. CT.
“When I’m dead and gone one day, maybe my daughters will get a copy of this and they’ll know very clearly how I felt about coach,” Beard said. “I’m so proud to be associated with coach Knight. I hope, in some way, he enjoys watching our teams play here at Ole Miss. We’ll honor him in every way we can.”
Beard spent nearly half of his 22-minute press conference discussing Knight’s impact on his life and career. He also touched on where his Rebels stand entering the season.
Here’s everything he had to say.
