**On This Day in 1985: Bobby Knight Becomes “The Chair Thrower”**
On February 23, 1985, college basketball witnessed one of its most iconic—and infamous—moments. During a game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Purdue Boilermakers, legendary (and often volatile) coach Bobby Knight reached his breaking point. Midway through the first half, following a series of calls that he strongly disagreed with, Knight stood up, grabbed a plastic chair, and launched it across the court. It skidded in front of the scorer’s table and came to rest on the opposite sideline. The moment instantly immortalized Knight as “The Chair Thrower.”
The incident occurred in Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana, with a packed house watching. Emotions were already running high. Knight, known for his fiery temper and no-nonsense coaching style, had been seething over what he perceived as inconsistent officiating. When a foul was called against one of his players—one that Knight strongly disagreed with—he exploded. What followed was not just an outburst, but a defining moment in sports history.
Knight was ejected from the game and suspended for one game by the Big Ten. Though Indiana would go on to lose to Purdue that day, the real story was already making headlines. News footage of the chair toss aired repeatedly on television, turning the event into a cultural flashpoint. For critics, it confirmed what they saw as Knight’s inability to control his emotions. For others, especially fans of Indiana basketball, it became a symbol of passion, intensity, and defiance.
In the years since, the chair-throwing incident has remained a lasting part of Bobby Knight’s legacy—both humorous and controversial. Knight himself later joked about it, once suggesting he should have autographed chairs for charity. Yet it also highlighted the complex nature of his coaching career: a brilliant tactician with a combustible personality, capable of greatness and chaos in equal measure.
Knight would go on to win over 900 games, including three NCAA championships with Indiana. But on this day in 1985, his name became forever linked to that airborne chair. The moment continues to be replayed and referenced in sports culture, a symbol of coaching passion pushed to the brink. Whether you see it as a meltdown or a memorable protest, Bobby Knight’s chair toss remains one of the most unforgettable moments in college basketbal
l history.
