STATEHOUSE (Jan. 6, 2026) – State Rep. Peggy Mayfield (R-Martinsville) recently presented a proposal to rename a stretch of SR 45 near Assembly Hall on Indiana University's main campus in Bloomington after the late legendary basketball coach, Robert "Bobby" Montgomery Knight to the House Roads and Transportation Committee.
"Coach Knight's name is synonymous with Indiana basketball, and his record is unmatched," Mayfield said. "Dedicating a stretch of road near Assembly Hall in his honor ensures his legacy will continue to inspire generations of students, fans and Hoosiers for years to come. I'm honored to bring this proposal forward as a lasting tribute to the mark he left on Indiana University and our state."
Bobby Knight coached the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team from 1971 to 2000, where he led the Hoosiers to three national championships, 11 Big Ten championships and one National Invitation Tournament title. "The General" ranks sixth on the all-time coaches list for victories and is the 30th winningest coach of all time. He was awarded National Coach-of-the-Year honors on four occasions in 1975, 76, 87 and 1989 and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991.
A native of Ohio, Knight graduated and played basketball at the Ohio State University, where he graduated with a degree in history and government. He then served his country honorably in the U.S. Army, where he would later coach the Black Knights basketball team, being named head coach at age 24. Knight then went on to Indiana, where his name is still synonymous with IU basketball today.
Knight's famed rivalry and later friendship with Purdue basketball coach, Gene Keady, his incredible career and prominent personality are some of the many reasons why in 49 other states it's just basketball — but this is Indiana.
HCR 4 passed out of committee unanimously. It will move to the full House for consideration. Once a renaming resolution passes through the Indiana General Assembly, INDOT can move forward with the project.
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State Rep. Peggy Mayfield (R-Martinsville) represents House District 60,
which includes portions of Johnson, Morgan and Monroe counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
