Bob Knight visits Ball State campus

Legendary former Indiana University basketball coach Bob Knight spoke to more than 1,100 people Thursday night in John R. Emens Auditorium.

He made jokes about NBA referees and MLB umpires.

He flaunted the strong personality that fans grew accustomed to during his coaching career.

He shared personal stories from his coaching career, along with motivational messages meant for the students in attendance.

He said success comes from a “desire to win.”

"You students, you want to win,” he said. “Hopefully you graduate. Next to finding a good husband or wife, that'll be the best day in your life."

Knight also visited with the Ball State men’s basketball team the day of the event. Senior forward Majok Majok said one thing stuck out from the visit.

“Knight said to play hard,” Majok said. “And to play smart, and if you did that, you could be a good player.”

Knight opened the evening by reflecting on the first game he ever coached. He was 24 years old when he took the court with Army.

He went on to post a record of 102-50 with the Black Knights, but something about that first game was different from the rest.

Previous coaches in Knight’s career had led their team in prayer before competing. So a young, nervous Knight asked his team to pray before the game tipped off.

He said he wasn’t completely confident in the decision, but he tried it. Army’s football coach was quick to tell Knight that “he and prayer don’t go well together.”

That was the last time he prayed before a game, he said. In all, Knight won 902 games, three national championships and a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics.

“I never tell a story about a game we lost," Knight said. "I’ve forgotten all of those.”