Employment Lessons Learned from Bobby Knight

In a move that surprised the entire basketball world, Bobby Knight resigned as head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. At age 67, he’s also presumably finished with coaching.

As best I can tell from news reports, there are three reasons for Knights’s unexpected resignation: (1) he’s tired, (2) he broke the 900 win mark and is the winningest men’s coach in major college basketball history with 902 victories (Pat Summitt has more wins as the coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers), and (3) his son Pat will now become the head coach.

Knight coached three teams: Army (where he became the youngest-ever Division I head coach at age 24); Indiana (where he established a record of 662-239 from 1971 to 2000, had an undefeated season, and won three national championships); and Texas Tech (where he performed successfully but not in the limelight he had enjoyed at Indiana). He also coached a team to an Olympic gold medal, won 20 or more games in 29 seasons, didn’t commit violations of NCAA rules, graduated a high percentage of players, and is regarded by the likes of John Wooden and Mike Krzyzewski as one of the best teachers of the game in history.

He was also one of the most controversial basketball coaches in history. He had a temper that was hard to control. He threw chairs. He cursed at his players. He grabbed them, shoved them, head-butted them. He was finally fired from Indiana after being caught on tape choking a player during practice. He held profanity-laced press conferences and gave bizarre interviews. While being interviewed by Connie Chung on one occasion, he was complaining about what seemed to him to be the inevitability of referees making bad calls against Indiana and made what many would call an outrageous analogy: “I think that if rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it.”

We learn from Bobby Knight that if you’re good enough at what you do, win enough, and make your employer enough money, you can get away with most anything for a long time. Knight was a classic bully. His glare seemed to cause as much terror and pain as his finger being poked in a player’s chest or his nose touching the nose of a player while he screamed uncontrollably in the player’s face. He may have been a great teacher of the mechanics and strategy of basketball, but he wasn’t a teacher of leadership and respect. There are many bullies in our workplaces from the plant floor to the office cubicle to the C-Suite who will use Bobby Knight as an example to justify what they do to their employees. We make our numbers. We get the job done. We add a ton to the bottom line. We make our employers winners. Therefore, we can treat our people any way we want to.

John Wooden was quoted this morning as saying or having said that while he didn’t always approve of Knight’s methods, he had never met one of his players who didn’t say Knight had made him a better person. The fact is Coach Wooden doesn’t know all of Knight’s players. As much as I respect Coach Wooden (who was the polar opposite of Knight in terms of leadership, respect, and example), his praise of Knight doesn’t take into account the players Knight ran off or destroyed because they couldn’t take his abuse.

Most of us have worked with or for people who were difficult, even abusive. Upon reflection, we might say that we learned a lot, became stronger, developed a thicker skin–all of which helped us in our future endeavors. I can say that, but I would never want to work with or for those people again. I’ve learned a lot more and become a better person because of the people who respected me, picked me up instead of kicked me when I was down, corrected me in a firm but private way, and taught me that you can be a winner without being a jerk.

There are many employment lessons to be learned from Bobby Knight. His determination to play by the rules and to make sure his players received a college degree is admirable this day and time. For the most part, however, we learn, in my opinion, what not to do.

1. 

   John Trimarchi, SPHR says:

   February 8, 2008 at 8:28 am

   John,

   It is true that Knight was successful in the won/lost columns and he may have turned out some very successful players. But, at what cost to the rest of the humanity disposed of by his hand. No one gains respect by acting like a jerk and bully. There is no honored place for them in this society.

   Knight should have been terminated and banned from the game long, long ago, despite his winning record. To trample others for your own self agrandizement is atrocious. The game will be better off without him and his wild antics.

   Always enjoy your perspective.

   John T
2. 

   John Phillips says:

   February 8, 2008 at 9:14 am

   John T,

   Thanks for weighing in. No disagreement here. I have noticed some talk about the possibility of Knight becoming a color commentator on TV, which underscores what matters most in the sports world–won/lost columns. Perhaps in the business world, we would say adding to the bottom line or making a profit, although that’s also part of what the won/lost columns means for the sports world. If the networks think he’ll attract new viewers by saying outlandish things and that outweighs his negatives, he’ll become someone’s sidekick in calling basketball games–regardless of his propensity to “trample others for [his] own self agrandizement. ” Thanks very much for your thoughts on this.
3. 

   Alan Patterson says:

   February 8, 2008 at 10:36 am

   John,
   Thanks for exposing the fallacy that winning, or in business, “the bottom line”, defines success. My 35 years in HR have convinced me that success is measured in many other ways, and the common ingredient is working relationships characterized by mutual trust and respect. Such relationships are a product of the character and personal integrity of the individuals involved. If you have developed such relationships on a 360 degree basis, bottom line success will follow, and you will take the respect of others with you into retirement.
   You are a wise man; love the blog.
   Alan
4. 

   John Phillips says:

   February 8, 2008 at 12:02 pm

   Alan, thanks for your comments about the blog and thanks for weighing in. I must say that the way you put this sounds more wise than the way I did. I’ve often thought that many businesses (including athletic teams) have it completely backwards. As you said, bottom line success will follow respectful relationships. One of our problems is that we want success immediately. That requires, we mistakenly believe, running over people or whatever it takes to get immediate gratification. The developing relationships approach takes longer, but the ultimate success is more lasting.
5. 

   John Phillips says:

   February 11, 2008 at 8:49 am

   Thanks for the mention. The Invent Blog is very interesting. Check it out if you haven’t already.