Coach Bob Knight Indiana Hoosiers Championship Bobblehead Series Unveiled to Celebrate 50th Anniversary

MILWAUKEE – This morning, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Indiana University’s perfect 1975-76 national championship basketball season, National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled an officially licensed Coach Bob Knight Championship Bobblehead Collection. The limited edition collection features three Coach Knight bobbleheads in the outfits worn during each year’s national championship game and fit together on an Assembly Hall court base with replicas of the national championship banners in the background. The bobbleheads are being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, an official licensee of Indiana University in conjunction with Knight Legacy.

Standing in front of replica championship banners that hang from the rafters at Assembly Hall, each Knight bobblehead is dressed as he was when the Hoosiers won their NCAA titles. The 1976 Knight bobblehead is wearing a red plaid sports coat, the 1981 Knight bobblehead is wearing a blue sports coat, and the 1987 Knight bobblehead is wearing his signature red sweater with the IU logo. The 1976 Knight bobblehead is holding a basketball that reads “1976 Champs 32-0” while the front of the base reads “Perfect in ’76.” The front of the base of the 1981 Knight bobblehead features a replica of his signature, while the front of the base of the 1987 Knight bobblehead reads “Coach Bob Knight.” All three bobbleheads fit together on a base that is a replica of the court at Assembly Hall. The back of the 1976 bobblehead features Indiana’s full schedule for the undefeated season, the 1981 bobblehead features the Indiana logo, and the 1987 bobblehead features a picture of Coach Knight.

The bobbleheads, which will be individually numbered to 19,760, are currently available exclusively through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store and BobKnight.com. The bobbleheads, which are expected to ship in March, cost $50 each or $140 for the set of three, plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.

On March 29th, 1976, the Hoosiers capped a perfect season with an 86-68 victory over Michigan at The Spectrum in Philadelphia. It remains the last undefeated season in Division I men’s college basketball. On March 30th, 1981, Knight won his second championship when Indiana beat North Carolina, 63-50, at The Spectrum once again. Knight wore a blue plaid sports coat as a tribute to his mentor Pete Newell, a legendary coach who led Cal to the NCAA title in 1959. On March 30th, 1987, Knight captured his third NCAA title when the Hoosiers edged Syracuse, 74-73, at the Superdome in New Orleans.

In his coaching career, Knight finished with an overall record of 902-371. A record at the time of his retirement, the 902 NCAA Division I victories currently ranks fifth all-time. In addition to coaching the Hoosiers from 1971 to 2000, he was also the head coach at Army from 1965 to 1971 and Texas Tech from 2001 to 2008. Other career highlights include 28 NCAA Tournament appearances, five trips to the Final Four, 11 Big Ten regular-season championships, and eight Big Ten Coach of the Year awards.

Known as one of college basketball’s most successful and innovative coaches, having popularized the motion offense, Knight also won a National Invitation Tournament crown and 11 Big Ten Conference titles along with his three national titles. Knight received National Coach of the Year honors four times and Big Ten Coach of the Year honors eight times. In 1984, he coached the USA men’s Olympic team to a gold medal, becoming one of only three basketball coaches to win an NCAA title, NIT title and an Olympic gold medal. Knight was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991 and was a member of the founding class of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. He was also inducted into the Army Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Indiana Hoosiers Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.

When asked about the new bobbleheads, Pat Knight, said, “Knight Legacy is excited to once again partner with the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame to launch this Championship Series of bobbleheads highlighting the three national titles my father led the Indiana teams to in ’76, ’81 and ’87. Those three championships — and the 1976 undefeated run — remain the ultimate standard of team success, which meant far more to Coach than any individual recognition.”

“We’re thrilled to unveil this special edition championship bobblehead series featuring legendary coach Bob Knight to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Indiana’s undefeated 1975-76 season,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “One of the most successful coaches in the history of college basketball, ‘The General’ guiding Indiana to three NCAA titles in 12 years are among his great accomplishments. These bobbleheads will be a must-have for Hoosiers fans!”

The Bob Knight Championship Series bobbleheads are the latest featuring the Hall of Fame coach. Other previously released bobbleheads include one of a standing Knight wearing his signature red sweater, and another commemorating his infamous chair-throwing incident that occurred during a game in the 1984-85 season. In addition, there is also a Bob Knight Career Accomplishments bobblehead. The red sweater bobblehead is sold out, while the chair-throwing and career accomplishments bobbleheads are still available. Those bobbleheads were also produced in conjunction with Knight Legacy.

About the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum:
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located at 170 S. 1st St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened to the public on February 1st, 2019. The HOF and Museum also produces high quality, customized bobbleheads for retail sale as well as organizations, individuals and teams across the country. Visit us online and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.