IU to review allegations regarding Coach Knight
March 23, 2000
NOTE: A copy of a letter from IU President Myles Brand is available on the Web at http://newsinfo.iu.edu/OCM/releases/mbletter.htm
BLOOMINGTON -- Indiana University is announcing today (March 23) that it will review three-year-old allegations involving IU Basketball Coach Bob Knight and former player Neil Reed raised in recent news reports.
IU President Myles Brand has asked two experienced attorneys, John Walda of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Frederick F. Eichhorn of Gary, Ind., to conduct a review of the matter and to report their findings within 90 days. Both have distinguished public service records, including gubernatorial appointments as trustees of IU.
"Any time a student athlete raises questions of physical abuse by a coach, it is a serious matter. Once charges of this nature have been raised, we are obligated to review the matter. The objective is to get to the truth of the matter, while being fair to all parties involved," Brand said.
IU followed up on claims of abuse when Neil Reed left the IU men's basketball program three years ago. In 1997, IU Athletics Director Clarence Doninger interviewed every member of the basketball coaching staff and all team members, including Reed. He also had several conversations with Reed's father. None of those interviewed, including the Reeds, made any specific allegations of abuse.
On March 14, Reed revealed in a televised report an alleged choking incident involving Coach Knight.
"Mr. Reed has now come forward with specific allegations which have received widespread media coverage. This review will explore the allegations and, at its conclusion, present an honest and fair account," Brand said.
IU will make no further announcements regarding this matter until the review is completed.
JOHN D. WALDA
- Partner in law firm of Barrett & McNagny
- General Counsel for Journal-Gazette (Ft. Wayne)
- First Chairman of Indiana Lottery Commission (1989-1990)
- Clarian Health Partners, Board of Directors, Chairman
- Clarian Health Network, Board of Directors
- Appointed by the Governor to the Indiana University Board of Trustees in 1990; President of the Board of Trustees, 1992-1993; 1994 to present
- Director, Association of Governing Boards; Treasurer, 1999
- Member, Headwaters Park Commission; Member, Allen County Parks and Recreation Board; Board Member and Executive Committee Member, Junior Achievement of Northeast Indiana
- Chairman, Young Lawyers Section, Indiana State Bar Association, 1983-84; House of Delegates, American Bar Association, 1983-86; Fellow, Indiana Bar Foundation; Master of the Bench, American Inns of Court; Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- B.A., Indiana University, 1972; J.D., 1975
FREDERICK F. EICHHORN, JR.
- Partner in law firm Eichhorn & Eichhorn (Retired)
- Counsel for Northern Indiana Public Service Company and The Times (Hammond)
- Commissioner, National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, 1998 to present
- Former president, Indiana State Bar Association, 1985-86
- Appointed by the Governor to the Indiana University Board of Trustees in 1990; Vice President of the Board of Trustees, 1992-93; 1994 to present
- Chairman and member of the board of directors of the Northwest Indiana Forum
- Chairman, Gary Regional Airport Task Force, 1989 to present
- Gary Housing Authority, 1972-75; Gary Police Civil Service Commission, 1975-82; Member of Indiana Sesquicentennial Commission; Chairman, Lake County Community Development Committee, 1984; Board of Directors, Northwest Indiana Symphony
- Indiana Commission on State Tax and Financing Policy, 1977; Indiana State Bar Association (Treasurer, 1977-78; District Member, Board of Managers, 1979-81; Vice President, 1983-84; President, 1985-86; Chairman, Corporate Counsel Section, 1977-78); Seventh Circuit Bar Association; Fellow, American and Indiana Bar Foundations; Commissioner, National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, 1998
- B.S., Indiana University, 1952; J.D., 1957
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