Pat Knight, the son of legendary Indiana University basketball coach Bobby Knight, has resigned as head men’s basketball coach at Marian University, an NAIA program in Indianapolis.

The departure, announced in early February 2026, came amid reported tensions with the university’s administration and followed a challenging stint on the sidelines marked by underwhelming team performance.

Knight, 55, stepped away after less than two full seasons leading the Knights. He was hired in May 2024 to replace Scott Heady, who had left for a Division II position at the University of Indianapolis.

The move was seen as a homecoming of sorts for Knight, who grew up in Indiana and played for his father at IU from 1990 to 1995.

After a decade working as a scout for the Indiana Pacers, Knight expressed enthusiasm about returning to coaching at the NAIA level, where he believed he could build a program with a more familial feel, free from the pressures of big-time college athletics like name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals.

In his introductory press conference, Knight spoke warmly about being “back home” in Indiana and his desire to honor his father’s legacy through fundamentals-driven basketball—motion offense, man-to-man defense, and strong player relationships.

Marian’s athletic director at the time, Steve Downing—a former IU player under Bob Knight—helped facilitate the hire, adding a layer of Hoosier connection to the appointment.

Knight’s first season in 2024-25 produced an 11-17 overall record and a 5-13 mark in the Crossroads League. While not spectacular, it represented a rebuilding effort for a program that had enjoyed success under Heady. Entering the 2025-26 campaign, expectations were modest, but results remained difficult.

The Knights struggled to a 5-17 record (2-10 in conference) before Knight’s exit, with a prolonged losing streak plaguing the team late in the year.

The resignation stemmed from a specific disagreement with administration officials. According to Knight’s comments to the Indianapolis Star on February 2, 2026, the breaking point involved a directive to terminate a staff member. “I quit today,” he said.

“They wanted me to fire a staff member, and I didn’t want to. When the administration starts trying to tell you what to do, nah, I’ve been there before!”

The quote echoed Knight’s past experiences in higher-profile roles. He took over as head coach at Texas Tech in 2008 after his father resigned midseason during the 2007-08 campaign. Pat led the Red Raiders to three double-digit win seasons and an NIT appearance but was let go after a downturn.

He then moved to Lamar University in 2011, guiding the Cardinals to a surprising NCAA Tournament berth in his first year (reaching the First Four). However, back-to-back dismal seasons (3-28 and 3-22) led to his midseason firing in 2014.

That history of administrative friction and abrupt endings appeared to resurface at Marian. Knight declined to identify the staff member in question or provide further details on the internal dispute, but his blunt assessment suggested deep frustration with perceived overreach.

“I’ve been there before” carried the weight of someone who had navigated—and sometimes clashed with—university power structures at bigger institutions.

The resignation also came against the backdrop of an on-court incident in Knight’s final game, where he was ejected in the first half, adding fuel to speculation about mounting pressures. Marian University confirmed the departure but offered limited public comment beyond acknowledging the change in leadership.

For fans of Indiana basketball, Pat Knight’s brief tenure at Marian represented a chance to see the Knight name back on a Hoosier-state sideline, even at the NAIA level.

His father, Bob Knight—the fiery Hall of Famer who won three national championships at IU and amassed 902 career wins—passed away in 2023, and Pat often spoke of coaching as a way to carry on that legacy while forging his own path.

His return to Indiana in 2024 was emotional; he even kissed the Assembly Hall floor during an exhibition game against IU the previous year.

Yet the quick exit underscores the challenges of coaching at any level: balancing authority, institutional expectations, and personal principles. Knight’s record at Marian stood at 16-34 overall and 7-23 in conference play, a step back from the program’s prior momentum.

The Knights now face an uncertain future as they search for a new leader to steady the ship in the competitive Crossroads League.

Knight has not indicated immediate plans for his next move. After his 2014 firing at Lamar, he spent a decade in the NBA scouting world, a role that offered stability away from the intense spotlight of head coaching.

Whether he returns to the bench—perhaps at another small college—or opts for a different chapter remains unclear.

In the end, Pat Knight’s Marian tenure was short but telling. It highlighted both his enduring passion for the game and the familiar pitfalls that have dotted his coaching career: clashes with authority, inconsistent results, and a stubborn commitment to doing things his way.

For a coach whose last name carries immense weight in Indiana hoops history, this latest chapter closed with the same intensity that defined his father’s era—uncompromising, outspoken, and ultimately, on his own terms.