Basketball coach Bob Knight reprimanded for spat with chancellor

<br>LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) _ Hot-tempered basketball coach Bob Knight was reprimanded Tuesday for his loud public outburst at Texas Tech's chancellor. <br><br>Tech athletic director Gerald Myers said

Tuesday, February 3rd 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) _ Hot-tempered basketball coach Bob Knight was reprimanded Tuesday for his loud public outburst at Texas Tech's chancellor.

Tech athletic director Gerald Myers said in a statement that ``appropriate personnel action'' was taken regarding Monday's verbal spat involving the coach at a grocery store.

``I regret that the situation turned out the way it did,'' Knight said in a news release. ``I look forward to finishing this season in a strong fashion and I am glad the situation is behind me.''

Knight guided the No. 19 Red Raiders against Baylor at home on Tuesday night. He received a rousing ovation when he came onto the court a couple of minutes earlier than usual.

Knight spent much of the day meeting with school officials.

This is the first time Tech has punished Knight in his three seasons at the school. He was hired in March 2001, six months after he was fired by Indiana for what then-school president Myles Brand called his ``pattern of unacceptable behavior.''

In a statement, chancellor David Smith said he applauded how Tech president Jon Whitmore and Myers, who was with Knight on Monday when the spat occurred, resolved this issue.

``We look forward to the continuation of what is already a successful season,'' Smith said.

The grocery-store incident occurred six weeks after Knight directed a profanity-filled tirade at an ESPN reporter. Knight later apologized.

A Hall of Famer, Knight was hired at Tech to revive a downtrodden program. He did that by getting the Red Raiders into the NCAA tournament his first season, but wasn't able to get back last season. In response, he returned his $250,000 salary to the school, saying he hadn't earned it.

Tech won 12 straight this season, the school's best streak since reaching the Sweet 16 in 1995-96, but then lost its next two going into the Baylor game.

Knight has the most wins among active men's coaches, but his fiery temper has often overshadowed his on-court success.

In his 29 years at Indiana, he won three national championships. Yet he's also remembered for throwing a chair across a court, punching a police officer in Puerto Rico and kicking a chair his son, then a player, was sitting in. He also was accused of choking a player.