Evening With Bobby Knight
A Knight with Bobby
Bobby Knight visits Hobbs
JASON FARMER NEWS-SUN
October 17, 2018
Legendary NCAA basketball coach Bobby Knight came to Hobbs Tuesday night as New Mexico and nearly 200 people, including several NMJC athletes got to listen as Knight shared stories during the dinner.
Knight coached at Army (for seven years), Indiana (30 years), and Texas Tech (eight years) over his 38-year coaching career. He won a gold medal as coach of the 1984 men's U.S. Olympic team and is one of just three men in NCAA basketball history to win a national championship as a player and as a coach. He was inducted into the basketball hall of fame in 1991 and the college basketball hall of fame in 2006.
He spoke to the crowd about how he got his start in coaching, on those who influenced him, and about current Texas Tech men's basketball coach Chris Beard, whom Knight first brought to Tech as an assistant during his years with the Red Raiders.
The former Texas Tech basketball coach enjoyed getting a chance to speak to the crowd. The coach, who is known for his colorful past, had the crowd laughing as he spoke about his career.
"I enjoyed coming. They are great people here," Knight said. "I enjoyed listening to them and visiting with them. It has been a most enjoyable evening for me."
New Mexico Junior College Athletic Director Deron Clark was pleased with how the event went.
"Without having any expectations, I am thrilled," Clark said. "I though the attendance was great and I though the speaker was spot on for what we needed. I think his connection with Texas Tech and the enthusiasm he brings to this area was big."
For people who wanted to attend, the dinner cost was $125 per seat or $1,000 for a whole table. There were also two items auctioned off by Mark Justice. The first was a Joe Everson painting that went for and the second was two round trip tickets from
Hobbs to Houston along with two nights in a hotel, two Houston Astros tickets for the 2019 season and $1,000 in spending money went for $6,100.
Tuesday's dinner was the last in a series for fundraisers to raise money for NMJC to raise enough money to fund one full scholarship for each individual program currently in existence at NMJC.
"Our goal was to be able to provide each program with one additional full scholarship," Clark said. "That is $7,500 per team. With assistance from First American Bank and the golf tournament that we had 10 days ago – with that, combined with this event, I think we are going to be able to do that."