Coach Bobby Knight and the will to win

Coach Knight Case

What are Coach Knight's strengths and weaknesses of leadership style? What aspects of his strengths and weaknesses do you think are unique to sports settings, and which are to be relevant in other contexts?

Coach Knight's leadership style is described as "passionate and demanding," revealing his core strengths and weaknesses (p. 1). He had a "relentless drive" and a "unique approach to the game" that resulted in several public controversies and eventually resulted in his getting fired (p. 1). For example, he occasionally lost his temper with displays of violence and aggression. He was accused of physical abuse on several occasions including a well-publicized event in which he apparently tried to strangle a player he was frustrated with (p. 5). The media attention Coach Knight drew to himself proved detrimental for the team's and the school's public relations.

Knight was known for being intensely competitive, resulting in a stunning record of wins that earned him and the Indiana University basketball team accolades. The coach valued hard work and discipline as well as good sportsmanship. Moreover, the former Indiana basketball coach was aware of his weaknesses and so was able and willing to adjust his style to minimize the controversies he was creating. His intense competitiveness and the high expectations he had from his players are not totally unique to a sports management setting. However, Coach Knight's physical aggression is rarely found outside of a sports setting. Because sports are physical in nature, physical aggression and verbal abuse are more widely tolerated than they would be in an office environment as a means to manage a team.

2. If you were to work with Coach Knight, what would be the best things, worst things about your job?

Working with Coach Knight would be an honor given his dedication to the sport. His intensity would be infectious and his drive to win would certainly eliminate negative thinking, pessimism, or defeatism. The best thing about working with Coach Knight would be having access to a powerful leader who continually pushed me to move beyond my self-imposed limitations, to stretch my comfort zone. However, working with Coach Knight would also be frightening at times. His physical aggression and the fear that he could lose his temper at any time would be the worst things about my job.

3. How do you, as a leader, decide when the ends justify the means, and when they do not?

Leaders do have the right and even the duty to use creative methods to inspire their teams. The ends may justify the means, so long as no one along the way gets hurt. If anyone does get hurt then the ends do not justify the means, which is why Coach Knight was eventually forced off the Indiana University team. Winning is important but not at the expense of human health; a loss of pride or hurt feelings is different from a loss of a limb or a severe injury that might be caused by a leaders like Coach Knight losing his temper.

4. If your child was on Coach Knight's team, what tips would you give him?

I would tell my child to respect Coach Knight's tactics. I would remind my son or daughter that the Coach had his best interests in mind; that the Coach valued winning and because of that he expected to win every game. Moreover, I would tell the child that Coach Knight's tactics were good for building character. A Coach as demanding as Knight does not tolerate anything but the best from each player, making my child work harder and fulfill his greatest potential.

5. Do you think that Coach Knight's approach to leadership is more effective with men than with women?

Coach Knight's approach to leadership is not necessarily more effective with men than with women. His approach is more effective with people who respond to it: whether because of personality differences, social or ethnic background, and possibly gender. However, some females respond to intensive disciplinary techniques and an authoritative approach whereas some males do not and would rebel against Coach Knight.