Tomorrow is "Pat Knight Day"

(Texas Tech Media Relations)

LUBBOCK MAYOR PROCLAIMS WEDNESDAY “PAT KNIGHT DAY”Newly appointed Texas Tech basketball leader coaches first home game against Kansas State

LUBBOCK, Texas - City of Lubbock Mayor David Miller has proclaimed Wednesday “Pat Knight Day” to officially welcome Texas Tech’s new basketball coach to his position. Knight took over the reins of the Red Raider basketball program early last week, replacing his legendary father, Bob Knight, following the latter’s resignation last Monday.

Pat Knight’s first head coaching duties came in the form of a pair of Big 12 Conference road games last week, but he brings his Red Raider basketball team back to United Spirit Arena on Wednesday for a conference tilt against conference North Division foe and 18th-ranked Kansas State. Tip-off is 8 p.m. CT

Following a four-year collegiate playing career at Indiana, Knight joined the staff of the NBA's Phoenix Suns, where he served as an administrative assistant and scout. In 1997, he was an assistant coach to the Continental Basketball Association’s Connecticut Pride.

In 1998, Knight was named to his first head coaching position as the leader of the Wisconsin Blast of the International Basketball Association. After a 3-5 start, he led his team to a 16-10 record over the last 26 games for a 19-15 overall mark, the fourth best in the league.

Knight earned his playing experience at Indiana University from 1991-1995. A four-year letterwinner with a redshirt season, Knight graduated in 1995 with a degree in sports management. During his collegiate career, IU made five NCAA appearances and played in the 1993 Elite Eight. Indiana also won Big Ten titles in 1991 and 1993.

When Indiana University played Texas Tech in the inaugural United Spirit Arena game on Nov. 19, 1999, Knight praised the state-of-the-art facility for players and fans and then reflected upon what it might be like to someday coach at Texas Tech University and call the United Spirit Arena home.

After serving as an assistant at Indiana for two years and one as an assistant coach with the Zips of the University of Akron, that reflection became reality at Texas Tech.