Kelvin Sampson to be Inducted into North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame

HOUSTON – University of Houston Men's Basketball Head Coach Kelvin Sampson was one of 11 legendary figures to be named to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026, Hall officials announced Monday.

A native of Pembroke, N.C., Sampson was an award-winning student-athlete at Pembroke High School before competing in basketball and baseball and earning his bachelor's degree at Pembroke State University (now UNC Pembroke).

Following his playing days, Sampson went into the basketball coaching ranks where he has built a legendary career as head coach at Montana Tech, Washington State, Oklahoma, Indiana and Houston. He became the first Native American elected to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.

"When I got the call from the North Carolina Sports Hall Fame, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. It was humbling. Born and raised in that state, I was able to look up to legends in just about every area," Sampson said. "You had Coach (Dean) Smith at North Carolina, who was the kingpin of college basketball nationally. Here comes another legend with Mike Krzyzewski. You have the 1975 NC State team. The ACC Tournament. Two of my good friends are (NC State Coach) Kay Yow and (North Carolina Coach) Sylvia Hatchell. One of the guys I have become friends with and talk to often is Charlie Scott.

I just went back to all of that. Your mind just becomes a speed-dial of all the great people who came before you that received this honor. That is what is humbling about it, to think you are included with people who are legends in their sports. I am very appreciative and humbled, and I share this honor with so many people. Hopefully, when I have the chance to express myself, I can thank a lot of people."

The group of 11 will be enshrined during the 62nd annual induction celebration on May 1 at the Sheraton at Four Seasons Convention Center in Greensboro, starting at 4 p.m. (CT).

Their induction will bring the total number of Hall of Fame members to 433. Ticket information will be released at a later date.

Sampson will join golfer Chip Beck, speed skater Heather Bergsma, football player Louis Breeden, basketball coach Leonard Hamilton, basketball player Tyler Hansbrough, football player Richard Huntley, tennis player John Isner, basketball coach Norvell Lee, soccer player Eddie Pope and wrestling coach Jerry Winterton.

ABOUT KELVIN SAMPSON
In more than 36 seasons as a head coach, Sampson has compiled an 812-355 record with 20 NCAA Tournament appearances during his career. He is one of only 15 coaches in NCAA history to lead 4+ schools to the NCAA Tournament and one of only 16 coaches to lead multiple schools to the NCAA Final Four.

In his career, he has been named a National Coach of the Year 14 times with five honors during the 2023-24 season alone. Sampson has received 10 conference Coach of the Year awards from five different leagues and guided every program he has led to multiple 20-win seasons during his stints.

In more than 11 seasons at Houston, Sampson has led the Cougars to seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances – including the 2025 NCAA National Championship Game and the 2021 NCAA Final Four – six American Athletic Conference titles, two Big 12 Conference regular-season crowns and one Big 12 Tournament championship. He became the second-winningest coach in Houston history during the 2020-21 season and ranks as the school's career leader with a .786 winning percentage.

With a 19-1 conference record, Sampson's 2024-25 Cougars set Big 12 and school single-season records with their victory total. Houston reached that milestone with a perfect 10-0 road in Big 12 road games, becoming the first school in a major conference in NCAA history to do that in a season.

To date, Houston has reeled off 15 consecutive road wins – all in Big 12 play – to record the nation's longest active streak and set a Big 12 record. The Cougars have not lost a road game since Feb. 3, 2024.

Sampson is the only coach in Houston history to lead the Cougars to five, six, seven, eight, nine and 10 consecutive 20-win seasons as well as four consecutive 30-win campaigns.

In 2024-25, Sampson's Cougars became the first team in more than a century to join a major conference and win consecutive regular-season titles in their first two years in the league.

During his Oklahoma tenure, he guided the Sooners to 10 consecutive 20-win seasons, the 1999 Sweet 16, the 2002 Final Four and an Elite Eight appearance in 2003. From 1994 to 2006, he led the Sooners to NCAA Tournament appearances in 11 of 12 years.

In the classroom, numerous student-athletes have received their bachelor's degrees with one earning his master's degree under Sampson's leadership at Houston.

His Cougars have been active leaders in their community, passing out Thanksgiving lunches to Star of Hope Mission residents, leading a Texas Special Olympics event inside the Guy V. Lewis Development Facility, working with Shriners Children's Hospital, inviting Team Impact students as team members, partnering with the city of Houston's BARC Animal Shelter & Adoptions, visiting with patients at Memorial Hermann Children's Hospital, distributing meals to families at the Richard M. Schulze Family Hope Lodge Houston and participating in Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers week during Sampson's tenure.

BUY TICKETS
Single-game home tickets for all games inside Fertitta Center are now on sale, and fans are encouraged to purchase quickly while supplies last. The two-time defending Big 12 Conference Champions, Houston will play host to nine Big 12 games inside Fertitta Center, starting Tuesday night vs. Texas Tech.

Fans interested in purchasing group tickets may complete this form to be contacted by a member of the Houston Athletics Tickets Sales staff.

Non-season ticket holders interested in purchasing season tickets are invited to place their names on the Season Ticket Wait List by clicking here.

UP NEXT
• Houston opens its Big 12 home slate when it takes on #14/14 Texas Tech at 8 p.m., Tuesday, inside Fertitta Center. That game will air on FS1.
• From there, Houston hits the road again to face Baylor inside Foster Pavilion in Waco, Texas, at Noon, January 10. That game will air on Peacock.
• The Cougars return to Fertitta Center to host a pair of home games against West Virginia (7:30 p.m., Jan. 13, FS1) and against Arizona State (TBA, Jan. 18, ESPN/2).
• All Houston Men's Basketball games can be heard on 950 AM KPRC, the Varsity Network app and Sirius XM Radio.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Basketball by providing NIL opportunities and by joining the 50-50 Club, which provides financial support directly to Houston Men's Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.

Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on X and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.

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