INDIANA — A legendary figure in Indiana sports history is one step closer to having a permanent namesake in the heart of Bloomington. State Sen. Eric Koch (R-Bedford) took to the Senate floor last week to voice his support for House Concurrent Resolution 4, a measure designed to honor the late IU basketball coach Bob Knight.
The resolution formally requests that the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) rename a specific, high-traffic stretch of State Road 45. The designated area runs between College Avenue and Fee Lane, passing directly in front of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall—the arena where Knight led the Hoosiers to three NCAA championships and achieved 662 of his career wins.
During the session, Sen. Koch emphasized the cultural and historical significance of the renaming. For decades, the stretch of road has served as the primary gateway for thousands of fans traveling to see the Hoosiers play.
“Renaming this portion of State Road 45 to ‘Bob Knight Memorial Way’ ensures that Coach Knight’s legacy remains an integral part of the landscape he helped define,” supporters of the resolution noted.
The resolution serves as an official request to INDOT, which oversees the naming of state highways and memorial markers. If the department moves forward as expected, new signage will be installed along the corridor to commemorate the Hall of Fame coach, who passed away in November 2023.
The move has seen broad support from alumni and local residents who view the renaming as a fitting tribute to Knight’s impact on both the university and the state of Indiana.
