FIRING OF BOB KNIGHT: INDIANA UNIVERSITY FORMER BASKETBALL COACH1

Firing of Bob Knight: Indiana University Former Basketball Coach

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Introduction

This essay will research two articles which discuss the probation and ultimate firing of former Indiana University basketball coach Bobby Knight. The question that will be answered in this essay is why did the university take the action it did? I will also include in this essay a discussion concerning agency law, potential liability and the rights of Former Coach Knight in regards to his employment contract. Along with this discussion will be an inclusion of the Christian approach to employer/employee relations.

Background

Knight was fired on September 10, 2000 from Indiana University as a Basketball Coach because the Administrators of Indiana University found Knight’s behavior to be “uncivil, defiant and unacceptable” (ABC News.com, September 10, 2000). CNN.com (September 10, 2000) reported that Knight abused a student at Indiana University and his unlawful actions resulted in the termination of his 29 year-old career as a successful Basketball Coach of the Indiana University’s basketball team. An investigation into Knight’s actions was conducted when the student made the allegation at the time which is now confirmed that the allegation is true that Knight did indeed abuse the student (ABC News.com, September 10, 2000; CNN.com, September 10, 2000). Knight was also noted as having “unacceptable behavior” problems for a long time during his tenure at Indiana University (ABC news.com, September 10, 2000; CNN.com, September 10, 2000).

Action University Took

The main reason why Indiana University took the action that it did is because Knight’s behavior was essentially against the law and it is unlawful for any organization, be it a government organization, private organization, corporate organization, non-profit, for-profit and/or small business to continue to employ an employee at their organization who is involved in unlawful behavior (Davis, 2000; Goplerud III, 1997). Not only did Knight have behavioral problems, but then on top of this he violated the rights of a student at Indiana University (ABC News.com, September 10, 2000; CNN.com, September 10, 2000). Without the students at any given school – there would no one to teach and no one to coach. Knight, having been a Former Basketball Coach now may (simple speculation) been considering his role at Indiana University as indispensable because of this great success in helping the basketball team that he coached to win many trophies – yes, Knight did do his job well. However, no one is indispensable at any job and there will always be a lineup of highly qualified people who could even do a potentially better job than Knight in this particular situation who could help to humble his ego (Misak, 2014).

Agency Law

According to Agency Law, the rights of an athlete are they should not be abused or mistreated under any circumstance (Davis, 2000; Goplerud III, 1997). This is the reason why we have legal courts in America. If there is a point of dispute, then this is where law and mediation enters – not civil disobedience.

Potential Liability

The potential liability in such a situation as the Knight case is that based on Knight’s actions the university would have been forced to fire Knight regardless of whether or not they would have wanted to excuse his behavior due to the fact that Knight’s actions held Indiana University liable for a civil lawsuit from the student who was abused by Knight (Davis, 2000; Goplerud III, 1997).

Rights of Bob Knight

The only real rights that Knight would have in this situation would be the legitimate Employment Law request to request an adequate severance so that he can attempt to adequately recover financially from the loss of employment (Davis, 2000; Goplerud III, 1997). As well, Knight also has the right to continue to secure his 401K in order to ensure that he has retirement income since it would be difficult for him to receive a job after such a public firing (Davis, 2000; Goplerud III, 1997).

Christian Approach to Employee Relations

The Holy Bible is something that can be widely and differently interpreted and understood. Based on my personal understanding of the Holy Bible, and I have read in its entirety twice, the way Indiana University handled the firing of Knight would be no different in terms of Employee Relations if the Indiana University were a Christian University (Cully, 1999).The purpose of the Ten Commandments is a clear understanding of right from wrong and what Knight did was obviously wrong.

Conclusion

This essay researched two articles which discuss the probation and ultimate firing of former Indiana University basketball coach Bobby Knight. The question that was answered in this essay is why did the university take the action it did? I also included in this essay a discussion concerning agency law, potential liability and the rights of Former Coach Knight in regards to his employment contract. Along with this discussion was an inclusion of the Christian approach to employer/employee relations.

References

ABC News. (September 10, 2000). “Indiana University Fires Knight,” ABC News.

Bloomington, Indiana: ABC News. Retrieved from:

CNN.com. (September 10, 2000). “Indiana University Basketball Coach Bob Knight Fired,”

CNN.com Transcripts. Atlanta, Georgia: CNN.com. Retrieved from:

Cully, M. (1999).Britain at work: As depicted by the 1998 workplace employee relations survey.

Psychology Press.

Davis, T. (2000). What is sports law.Marq. Sports L. Rev.,11, 211.

Goplerud III, C. P. (1997). Pay for play for college athletes: now, more than ever.S. Tex. L.

Rev.,38, 1081.

Misak, C. (2014). Exploding a Myth: CI Lewis, Pragmatism, and the Given.Filozofia,69(4).