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University of Houston Athletics
Kelvin Sampson Named Gaines National Coach of the Year
4/27/2019 10:28:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Cougar coach led Houston to school-record 33-4 mark and NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
HOUSTON – University of Houston Men's Basketball Head Coach Kelvin Sampson was named the Clarence "Big House" Gaines NCAA Division I Coach of the Year by the National Sports Media Association on Friday night.
The Gaines Awards will be presented during the 60th annual NSMA Awards Banquet on June 24 inside Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C. Tickets and sponsorships may be purchased by clicking here.
Earlier this year, Sampson was recognized as the American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and the National Association of Basketball Coaches District 25 Coach of the Year, earning each of those awards for the second straight season.
Sampson also was named a finalist for the Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year Award, the Henry Iba Award, the Jim Phelan Award and the Ben Jobe Award.
Virginia State Head Coach Lonnie Blow Jr. was named the Gaines NCA Division II Coach of the Year recipient.
For information on the other NSMA Awards winners, fans can click here.
ABOUT KELVIN SAMPSON
In 2018-19, Sampson led the Cougars to a 33-4 record to set a school record for wins, the program's first outright regular-season conference championship since 1984, Top-10 rankings in both national polls and a place in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
His Houston team won its first 15 games to open the season for the program's third-longest winning streak in school history and followed that with a 12-game streak after enduring its first loss at Temple in early January.
After winning 19 straight games in H&PE Arena as their home arena underwent a $60-million renovation, Sampson's Cougars won their first 14 home games in the Fertitta Center and owned the nation's longest home winning streak at 33 games until late February.
With the Cougars' win at SMU in mid-January, Sampson became only the 52nd coach in NCAA history to reach 600 victories in his career. That win also gave him 100 in his Houston career and made him the fastest coach in UH history to reach that total.
He was named the American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for the second straight season, becoming only the second coach in program history to win accomplish that feat and the first since Hall of Fame Coach Guy V. Lewis did so in 1983-84 in the Southwest Conference.
ABOUT THE GAINES AWARD
Beginning in 2011, the NSMA has presented the Clarence "Big House" Gaines College Basketball Coach of the Year Award to a head coach in NCAA Division I and Division II, bestowing recognition on the coaches, who may not receive it from mainstream outlets.
ABOUT CLARENCE "BIG HOUSE" GAINES
Gaines was the legendary basketball coach at Winston-Salem (N.C.) State University. In 47 seasons as head coach, his teams won 828 games, including the 1967 NCAA Division II National Championship. Earl 'The Pearl' Monroe was the leader of that 1967 team. He went on to an NBA Hall of Fame career. Among the other notable players Gaines coached were Cleo Hill, the first NBA first-round draft choice from a historically black college or university, and sports media personality Stephen A. Smith.
BUY 2019-20 SEASON TICKETS
Fans don't have to wait for Fan Appreciation Night to get a head start on the 2019-20 campaign by purchasing season tickets now, starting at only $175.
Fans can purchase 2019-20 season tickets at UHCougars.com/tickets or by calling the Athletics Ticket Office at 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) during regular business hours.
JOIN the 50-50-CLUB
Fans are invited to join the 50-50 Club to support Houston Men's Basketball. 50-50 Club members help fund program necessities and enhance the experience for our student-athletes.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered team apparel, a signed basketball, invitations to practice, a tour of the $25 million Guy V. Lewis Development Facility, regular updates about the program and much more.
To join the 50-50 Club, fans can call 713-743-9742 or email UHMensBasketball@uh.edu. For more information about the 50-50 Club, levels of giving and benefits, fans can click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team' Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
The Gaines Awards will be presented during the 60th annual NSMA Awards Banquet on June 24 inside Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C. Tickets and sponsorships may be purchased by clicking here.
Earlier this year, Sampson was recognized as the American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and the National Association of Basketball Coaches District 25 Coach of the Year, earning each of those awards for the second straight season.
Sampson also was named a finalist for the Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year Award, the Henry Iba Award, the Jim Phelan Award and the Ben Jobe Award.
Virginia State Head Coach Lonnie Blow Jr. was named the Gaines NCA Division II Coach of the Year recipient.
For information on the other NSMA Awards winners, fans can click here.
ABOUT KELVIN SAMPSON
In 2018-19, Sampson led the Cougars to a 33-4 record to set a school record for wins, the program's first outright regular-season conference championship since 1984, Top-10 rankings in both national polls and a place in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
His Houston team won its first 15 games to open the season for the program's third-longest winning streak in school history and followed that with a 12-game streak after enduring its first loss at Temple in early January.
After winning 19 straight games in H&PE Arena as their home arena underwent a $60-million renovation, Sampson's Cougars won their first 14 home games in the Fertitta Center and owned the nation's longest home winning streak at 33 games until late February.
With the Cougars' win at SMU in mid-January, Sampson became only the 52nd coach in NCAA history to reach 600 victories in his career. That win also gave him 100 in his Houston career and made him the fastest coach in UH history to reach that total.
He was named the American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for the second straight season, becoming only the second coach in program history to win accomplish that feat and the first since Hall of Fame Coach Guy V. Lewis did so in 1983-84 in the Southwest Conference.
ABOUT THE GAINES AWARD
Beginning in 2011, the NSMA has presented the Clarence "Big House" Gaines College Basketball Coach of the Year Award to a head coach in NCAA Division I and Division II, bestowing recognition on the coaches, who may not receive it from mainstream outlets.
ABOUT CLARENCE "BIG HOUSE" GAINES
Gaines was the legendary basketball coach at Winston-Salem (N.C.) State University. In 47 seasons as head coach, his teams won 828 games, including the 1967 NCAA Division II National Championship. Earl 'The Pearl' Monroe was the leader of that 1967 team. He went on to an NBA Hall of Fame career. Among the other notable players Gaines coached were Cleo Hill, the first NBA first-round draft choice from a historically black college or university, and sports media personality Stephen A. Smith.
BUY 2019-20 SEASON TICKETS
Fans don't have to wait for Fan Appreciation Night to get a head start on the 2019-20 campaign by purchasing season tickets now, starting at only $175.
Fans can purchase 2019-20 season tickets at UHCougars.com/tickets or by calling the Athletics Ticket Office at 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) during regular business hours.
JOIN the 50-50-CLUB
Fans are invited to join the 50-50 Club to support Houston Men's Basketball. 50-50 Club members help fund program necessities and enhance the experience for our student-athletes.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered team apparel, a signed basketball, invitations to practice, a tour of the $25 million Guy V. Lewis Development Facility, regular updates about the program and much more.
To join the 50-50 Club, fans can call 713-743-9742 or email UHMensBasketball@uh.edu. For more information about the 50-50 Club, levels of giving and benefits, fans can click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team' Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
– UHCougars.com –
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