BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Bob Knight is suing Indiana University over his firing after weeks of negotiations between his attorneys and the school collapsed.

The lawsuit was filed in the Monroe County Circuit Court on Friday. The former Hoosiers coach had until Tuesday to take legal action against the school.

Knight was fired Sept. 10, 2000 by university President Myles Brand, and gave Indiana notice in early 2001 that he might sue for wrongful dismissal.

In the lawsuit, Knight claimed he suffered losses in excess of $2 million, and alleged that he was terminated without cause, without a proper meeting of university trustees and without a chance to defend himself.

The school denied the allegations.

"The university has fulfilled all of its obligations under the contract it had with Mr. Knight. Indiana University will defend its interests vigorously," the university said in a statement released Tuesday.

The two sides agreed to extend talks last month in hopes of reaching an agreement, but negotiations collapsed late last week.

Under Indiana law, Knight had two years to take legal action.

Attorney have said a key issue in the talks is whether Indiana should pay Knight for lost income and how much should be paid.

Russell Yates, Knight's attorney, has said the coach probably lost $3 million in salary and outside income due to his firing. Knight took a job as men's basketball coach at Texas Tech six months after being fired from Indiana.

Brand fired Knight because the president said the coach violated a "zero-tolerance" policy that IU officials had imposed to try to keep his behavior in check. Knight has disputed the reasons for his firing.

About 45 fans filed a lawsuit against Brand and the trustees in April 2001 over the firing. They alleged Brand and the trustees violated Indiana's Open Door Law the day before Knight was dismissed by holding two secret meetings about the firing without a majority present.

In September, Knight agreed to pay $25,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by former assistant coach Ron Felling. Knight, who admitted to shoving Felling in anger, also agreed to cooperate with Felling in a lawsuit against the university, according to attorneys.

The lawsuit alleges that the university was negligent in supervising its former coach.