BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Former Indiana University men's basketball coach Bob Knight will not take part in the ceremony to mark his induction into school's hall of fame.

Knight -- the most winngingnest men's basketball coach in NCAA history -- won three national championships at IU before his controversial firing in 2000.

IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass said in a statement Thursday that Knight had contacted him directly to say he would not be attending next week's event because of concerns that media interest would overshadow the other inductees.

"I absolutely respect his feelings on that and very much appreciate his response, which in no way suggested he opposed being inducted," Glass said in the statement. "Coach Knight expressed his tremendous appreciation for the support his teams were given by the IU student body and fans all over the state of Indiana and the contribution that support made to the success of his teams."

Knight and the university have been involved with an ongoing legal dispute after the former coach claimed that the school failed to represent him in a claim filed against him, while he was an employee of the university, by former assistant coach Ron Felling.

University spokesman Larry MacIntyre said last week that an anonymous donor provided $75,000 for IU to give Knight in return for releasing the university from "any and all claims either might have against the other."

But Knight told ESPN.com Tuesday that he would not accept the check.

Knight settled with Felling in 2002, paying him $25,000 and admitting that he shoved him in anger after overhearing his assistant criticizing his coaching and behavior.

The 2009 Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 6 at Assembly Hall.