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Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- rjchampa@central.uh.edu
| ABOUT KELVIN SAMPSON | |
| Hometown | Pembroke, N.C. |
| College | UNC Pembroke, 1978 Michigan State, 1980 |
| Family | wife, Karen; daughter, Lauren; son, Kellen; granddaughter, Maisy ; grandson, Kylen |
| COACHING EXPERIENCE | |
| Year | Team, Position |
| 2014 – | Houston, Head Coach |
| 2011-14 | Houston Rockets, Assistant Coach |
| 2008-11 | Milwaukee Bucks, Assistant Coach |
| 2006-08 | Indiana, Head Coach |
| 1994-06 | Oklahoma, Head Coach |
| 1987-94 | Washington State, Head Coach |
| 1981-85 | Montana Tech, Head Coach |
| 1980-81 | Montana Tech, Assistant Coach/Interim Head Coach |
| 1979-80 | Michigan State, Graduate Assistant Coach |
| CHAMPIONSHIPS | |
| Year | Championship |
| 2024-25 | • Big 12 Champions • Big 12 Tournament Champions |
| 2023-24 | Big 12 Conference Champions |
| 2022-23 | American Athletic Champions |
| 2021-22 | • American Athletic Champions • American Athletic Tournament Champions |
| 2020-21 | American Athletic Tournament Champions |
| 2019-20 | American Athletic Champions |
| 2018-19 | American Athletic Champions |
| 2004-05 | Big 12 Champions |
| 2002-03 | Big 12 Tournament Champions |
| 2001-02 | Big 12 Tournament Champions |
| 2000-01 | Big 12 Tournament Champions |
| 1984-85 | Frontier Conference Champions |
| 1983-84 | Frontier Conference Champions |
| POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE | |
| Year | Experience |
| 2023-24 | NCAA National Finalist |
| 2023-24 | NCAA Sweet 16 |
| 2022-23 | NCAA Sweet 16 |
| 2021-22 | NCAA Elite Eight |
| 2020-21 | NCAA Final Four |
| 2018-19 | NCAA Sweet 16 |
| 2017-18 | NCAA Second Round |
| 2016-17 | NIT First Round |
| 2015-16 | NIT First Round |
| 2006-07 | NCAA Second Round |
| 2005-06 | NCAA First Round |
| 2004-05 | NCAA Second Round |
| 2003-04 | NIT Second Round |
| 2002-03 | NCAA Elite Eight |
| 2001-02 | NCAA Final Four |
| 2000-01 | NCAA First Round |
| 1999-00 | NCAA Second Round |
| 1998-99 | NCAA Sweet 16 |
| 1997-98 | NCAA First Round |
| 1996-97 | NCAA First Round |
| 1995-96 | NCAA First Round |
| 1994-95 | NCAA First Round |
| 1993-94 | NCAA First Round |
| 1991-92 | NIT Second Round |
| 1984-85 | NAIA District 12 Playoffs |
| 1983-84 | NAIA District 12 Playoffs |
| 1982-83 | NAIA District 12 Playoffs |
| NBA DRAFT SELECTIONS | |
| Year | Experience |
| 2024 | Jamal Shead Toronto Raptors Second Round | #45 pick |
| 2023 | • Jarace Walker Indiana Pacers First Round | #8 pick • Marcus Sasser Detroit Pistons First Round | #25 pick |
| 2021 | Quentin Grimes New York Knicks First Round | #25 pick |
| 2017 | Damyean Dotson New York Knicks Second Round | #44 pick |
| 2010 | Jordan Crawford New Jersey Nets First Round | #27 pick |
| 2008 | • Eric Gordon Los Angeles Clippers First Round | #7 pick • D.J. White Detroit Pistons First Round | #29 pick |
| 2009 | Taylor Griffin Phoenix Suns Second Round | #48 pick |
| 2002 | Ryan Humphrey Utah Jazz First Round | #19 pick |
| 2000 | Eduardo Najera Houston Rockets) Second Round | #38 pick |
| 1998 | Corey Brewer Miami Heat Second Round | #51 pick |
| 1997 | Nate Erdmann Utah Jazz Second Round | #56 pick |
| 1996 | • Ryan Minor Philadelphia 76ers Second Round | #32 pick • Mark Hendrickson Philadelphia 76ers Second Round | #31 pick |
| 1989 | Brian Quinnett New York Knicks Second Round | #40 pick |
| COACHING AWARDS | |
| Year | Experience |
| 2024-25 | • The Sporting News National Coach of the Year • CBS Sports National Coach of the Year • Big 12 Coach of the Year • Big 12 Coach of the Year (AP) • NABC Gulf District Coach of the Year • Naismith Awards National Coach of the Year Finalist |
| 2023-24 | • Henry Iba National Coach of the Year Award • NABC National Coach of the Year • Associated Press National Coach of the Year • John McLendon Award • Field of 68 National Coach of the Year • Big 12 Coach of the Year • Big 12 Coach of the Year (AP) • Field of 68 National Coach of the Year • NABC District 8 Coach of the Year |
| 2022-23 | • The American Coach of the Year • NABC District 25 Coach of the Year • USBWA District VII Coach of the Year |
| 2021-22 | • CBS Sports National Coach of the Year • Ben Jobe Award • The American Coach of the Year • NABC District 24 Coach of the Year • Texas Coach of the Year (Dave Campbell's Texas Basketball) • Coach of the Year (Houston Sports Awards) |
| 2020-21 | John McLendon National Coach of the Year Award |
| 2018-19 | • Clarence "Big House" Gaines National Coach of the Year • The American Coach of the Year • NABC District 25 Coach of the Year |
| 2017-18 | • The American Coach of the Year • NABC District 25 Coach of the Year |
| 2001-02 | NABC National Coach of the Year |
| 1994-95 | • AP National Coach of the Year • Big 8 Coach of the Year |
| 1991-92 | Kodak District 14 Coach of the Year |
| 1990-91 | • PAC-10 Coach of the Year • Kodak District 14 Coach of the Year |
| 1984-85 | Frontier Conference Coach of the Year |
| 1982-83 | Frontier Conference Coach of the Year |
| HEAD COACHING RECORD | |||
|
|||
| Year | School | Record | Conference |
| HOUSTON (299-84 | 151-48 Big 12/American | 7 NCAA Tournaments) | |||
| 2024-25 | Houston | 35-5 | 19-1 |
| 2023-24 | Houston | 32-5 | 15-3 |
| 2022-23 | Houston | 33-4 | 17-1 |
| 2021-22 | Houston | 32-6 | 15-3 |
| 2020-21 | Houston | 28-4 | 14-3 |
| 2019-20 | Houston | 23-8 | 13-5 |
| 2018-19 | Houston | 33-4 | 16-2 |
| 2017-18 | Houston | 27-8 | 14-4 |
| 2016-17 | Houston | 21-11 | 12-6 |
| 2015-16 | Houston | 22-10 | 12-6 |
| 2014-15 | Houston | 13-19 | 4-14 |
| INDIANA (43-15 | 21-8 Big Ten) | One NCAA Tournament) | |||
| 2007-08 | Indiana | 22-4 | 11-2 |
| 2006-07 | Indiana | 21-11 | 10-6 |
| OKLAHOMA (281-107 | 129-59 Big 8/12 Conference) | 11 NCAA Tournaments) | |||
| 2005-06 | Oklahoma | 20-9 | 11-5 |
| 2004-05 | Oklahoma | 25-8 | 12-4 |
| 2003-04 | Oklahoma | 20-11 | 8-8 |
| 2002-03 | Oklahoma | 27-7 | 12-4 |
| 2001-02 | Oklahoma | 31-5 | 13-3 |
| 2000-01 | Oklahoma | 26-7 | 12-4 |
| 1999-00 | Oklahoma | 27-7 | 12-4 |
| 1998-99 | Oklahoma | 22-11 | 11-5 |
| 1997-98 | Oklahoma | 22-11 | 11-5 |
| 1996-97 | Oklahoma | 20-10 | 10-6 |
| 1995-96 | Oklahoma | 18-12 | 8-6 |
| 1994-95 | Oklahoma | 23-9 | 9-5 |
| WASHINGTON STATE (103-103 | 48-78 Pac 10 | One NCAA Tournament) | |||
| 1993-94 | Washington State | 20-11 | 10-8 |
| 1992-93 | Washington State | 15-12 | 9-9 |
| 1991-92 | Washington State | 22-11 | 9-9 |
| 1990-91 | Washington State | 16-12 | 8-10 |
| 1989-90 | Washington State | 7-22 | 1-17 |
| 1988-89 | Washington State | 10-19 | 4-14 |
| 1987-88 | Washington State | 13-16 | 7-11 |
| MONTANA TECH (43-15 | 33-27 Frontier Conference | 3 NAIA District 12 Playoffs) | |||
| 1984-85 | Montana Tech | 22-7 | 12-3 |
| 1983-84 | Montana Tech | 22-9 | 11-4 |
| 1982-83 | Montana Tech | 22-9 | 10-5 |
| 1981-82 | Montana Tech | 7-20 | 0-15 |
Follow Coach Kelvin Sampson on Twitter
A veteran of 20 NCAA Tournaments, former Houston Rockets coach and longtime college veteran Kelvin Sampson joined the University of Houston Men’s Basketball program as its head coach on April 3, 2014.
With his hiring, Sampson became the ninth head coach in the history of the Houston program.
As a 36-year head coaching veteran at Houston, Indiana, Oklahoma, Washington State and Montana Tech, Sampson has compiled a 799-354 record during his career with 20 NCAA Tournament appearances. 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 for 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 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 – while standing as the only coach in school history to lead Houston to 10 straight 20-win seasons. He became the second-winningest coach in Houston history during the 2020-21 season and ranks as the school’s career leader with a .781 winning percentage.
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 guided 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 and Hofheinz Pavilion, 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.
at HOUSTON
In 2024-25, Sampson led the Cougars to one of the greatest seasons in program history and one that will be long remembered by Houston fans.
For his impressive leadership, Sampson was named the National Coach of the Year by The Sporting News and CBS Sports and was named the Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year by the league and the Associated Press for the second straight season.
The Cougars – who finished #2 in both national polls – set a school single-season record with 35 wins and advanced to the NCAA Tournament National Championship Game before falling to Florida inside Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Houston won 31 of its final 33 games to end the season and advanced to the NCAA Final Four for the seventh time in program history with a resounding 69-50 win over #6/6 (2) Tennessee during the Elite Eight in Indianapolis on March 30.
The Cougars swept the Big 12 regular-season and tournament championships in their second year in the league and set school and league records with a 19-1 mark in conference games. Houston became the first school to join a major conference and win the regular-season title in each of its first two years in the league in more than 100 years.
Houston became the first NCAA Division I school in history to post a 10-0 record in conference road games in a season and enters the 2025-26 season as winners of its last 14 road games, the nation’s longest active streak.
Guard LJ Cryer was named to multiple All-America Teams while guard Emanuel Sharp was named the Most Outstanding Player of both the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional and the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship. Forward Joseph Tugler was named a finalist for the Naismith Awards National Defensive Player of the Year presented by MOLECULE.
Sampson led his Cougars over numerous obstacles during the 2023-24 season, which culminated with the program’s fifth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, a school record.
The Cougars posted a 32-5 overall record and captured the Big 12 regular-season championship by two games over its closest competitor in its first year in the league, despite starting 1-2 in conference play.
Although several student-athletes were lost with season-ending injuries throughout the year, Sampson kept his squad together to record the program’s third straight 30-win season – a school record – and was ranked in the Top 10 of both national polls for the entire campaign.
Point guard Jamal Shead was named the Big 12 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year to become the first player in league history to win both honors in the same season. Shead was a unanimous consensus First-Team All-American and was recognized as National Defensive Player of the Year by the Naismith Awards, National Association of Basketball Coaches, Field of 68 and Andy Katz while receiving the Nolan Richardson Award, presented to the college player who is recognized as the heart and soul of his team.
For his and his team’s impressive work all season, Sampson was named National Coach of the Year by the NABC and Associated Press and received the John McLendon Award and the Henry Iba Award from the United States Basketball Writers Association as the nation’s top coach.
Under Sampson’s leadership in 2022-23, the Cougars continued to stand among the nation’s best. With 33 victories, Houston recorded its second straight 30-win season and the third under Sampson.
The Cougars ranked among the nation’s Top-Six leaders in both national polls for the entire season and spent eight weeks at No. 1 for the first time since 1984.
Houston captured the American Athletic Conference regular-season title for the fourth time in a five-year stretch and swept the league’s postseason individual awards with Sampson being named The American Coach of the Year for the fourth time in a six-year stint.
The Cougars competed as the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1983 and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 or farther for the fourth straight season.
Following the season, guard Marcus Sasser and forward Jarace Walker were taken in the First Round of the NBA Draft with Walker being selected with the No. 8 overall pick. He became the highest Cougar taken in the NBA Draft since 1984, and it marked the first time since 1984 that a pair of Cougars were chosen in the First Round.
Sampson led the Cougars throughout an unforgettable 2021-22 season, which featured numerous twists and turns.
Picked to win the American Athletic Conference for the third straight season in the Coaches’ Preseason poll, Sampson and the team were dealt a pair of heavy blows with the losses of guards Marcus Sasser and Tramon Mark to season-ending injuries in late December 2021.
Despite those losses, Sampson and the Cougars responded and overcame those challenges, posting a 32-6 overall record, sweeping the league’s regular-season and tournament championships and advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight.
It was only the fourth sweep of the conference championships in school history and the first since 1991-92.
The Cougars finished the season at No. 15 in the final Associated Press poll and at No. 7 in the Ferris Mowers Coaches’ poll. It was the second straight season in which Houston finished among the Top 10 in at least one national poll.
For his team’s impressive efforts, Sampson was recognized as the CBS Sports National Coach of the Year and received the Ben Jobe Award, presented annually to the nation’s Top NCAA Division I minority coach.
Sampson also received The American Coach of the Year award for the third time in the last five seasons and was named NABC District 24 Coach of the Year and the Texas Coach of the Year by Dave Campbell’s Texas Basketball.
Under Sampson’s leadership, the Cougars enjoyed a historic season in 2020-21.
With a 67-61 win over Oregon State on March 29, Sampson led the Cougars back to the NCAA Final Four, the program’s sixth Final Four appearance in school history. He became only the 16th coach in NCAA history to lead multiple schools to the NCAA Final Four.
Facing COVID-19 protocols throughout the season, Sampson’s Cougars posted a 28-4 overall record and 14-3 mark in American play. The Cougars were ranked in both national polls for every week during the year and ended the campaign at No. 6 in the Associated Press and at No. 3 in the Ferris Mowers Coaches’ poll.
Houston capped the regular season with a thrilling, buzzer-beating win over Memphis inside the Fertitta Center and carried that momentum into the postseason.
The Cougars won three straight games in as many days to capture the American Athletic Conference Championship title inside Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, for the program first conference tournament title since 2010.
From there, Houston entered the NCAA Tournament bubble in Indianapolis. With wins over Cleveland State, Rutgers, Syracuse and Oregon State, the Cougars advanced to the program’s first NCAA Final Four since 1984.
Guard Quentin Grimes was named The American Player of the Year and collected similar honors at The American Championship. For his performance in the NCAA Tournament, guard DeJon Jarreau was named the Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player.
For his and his team’s impressive achievements all season, Sampson received the John McLendon National Coach of the Year Award, the fourth national coaching honor of his career.
Despite losing four starters, Sampson’s 2019-20 Houston team was selected as a preseason favorite by the American Athletic Conference coaches, and the Cougars lived up to the hype.
Sampson led the Cougars to a 23-8 overall record and a 13-5 mark in league play for Houston’s second straight regular-season conference title. It was only the second time in program history that Houston captured back-to-back league crowns and the first time since 1984.
With 23 victories, Sampson guided Houston to its fifth straight 20-win season, a first in program history. His Cougars also finished No. 22 in the final Associated Press poll and at No. 23 in the last USA TODAY Coaches’ poll, marking the third straight season Houston finished among the nation’s Top 25.
The Cougars were poised to earn their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance before the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic in March 2019 abruptly canceled collegiate athletics for the remainder of the season.
In 2018-19, Sampson led Houston to one of the greatest seasons in school history. He guided the Cougars to a 33-4 overall record with a 16-2 mark in American Athletic Conference play, the league’s regular-season title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 for the first time since 1984.
With Houston’s 69-58 win at SMU on Jan. 16, 2019, Sampson earned the 600th win of his career, becoming the 52nd coach in NCAA history (with 10+ years of Division I experience) to reach that milestone.
He also collected the 100th win of his Houston career against the Mustangs, setting a school record as the fastest coach to triple-digit victories with the Cougars (149).
Sampson’s Cougars rattled off a 33-game home winning streak, which was the nation’s longest mark before it was snapped it late February 2019, and was the fourth-longest home streak in school history.
Sampson was recognized as the American Athletic Conference Coach and the National Association of Basketball Coaches District 25 Coach of the Year for the second straight season and received the Clarence “Big House” Gaines National Coach of the Year Award from the National Sports Media Association.
Sampson guided the 2017-18 Cougars to one of the most successful seasons in decades. With a 27-8 overall record, the Cougars tied for the sixth-most wins in school single-season history and earned their first NCAA Tournament victory since 1984 when guard Rob Gray banked in a layup with 1.2 seconds remaining in a 67-65 win over rv/rv San Diego State in the First Round in Wichita, Kan.
For his and his team’s impressive efforts, Sampson was named the Coach of the Year by the American Athletic Conference and the NABC District 25.
He became the first coach in program history to lead the Cougars to 3+ 20-win seasons during his first four years at Houston.
Competing in Texas Southern’s H&PE Arena as the Fertitta Center underwent a $60-million renovation, Sampson led the Cougars to a perfect 15-0 home record in 2017-18, the ninth perfect home season in school history.
Houston was one of only six teams to post a perfect home record in 2017-18.
In 2016-17, Sampson led the Cougars to 21 victories and a third-place finish in the American Athletic Conference. It was the second straight season in which the Cougars finished among the league’s top-three leaders.
The Cougars also advanced to the NIT for the second straight season, a first in program history since 2005 and 2006.
Houston played in front of two home sellouts for the first time since 2007-08 as the Cougars closed out Hofheinz Pavilion to prepare for the Fertitta Center for the 2018-19 season.
Guards Damyean Dotson and Rob Gray were named to the All-American Athletic Conference First Team, the first Cougar duo to earn All-Conference First-Team accolades in the same season since 1990. Gray also became the Cougars’ first conference scoring champion since Aubrey Coleman led Conference USA and the nation in 2009-10.
The Cougars enjoyed tremendous success under Sampson’s leadership during the 2015-16 season. Picked to finish seventh in the coaches’ preseason poll, the Cougars tied for third in the American Athletic Conference and played as the No. 2 seed at the American Championship.
Sampson led the Cougars to 22 wins for only the 15th time in program history with a win over No. 12 SMU inside Hofheinz Pavilion. After a tremendous regular season, the Cougars earned a bid to the NIT for the first time since 2006.
Excitement about Sampson and his program continued to build throughout the season. In December, the Cougars knocked off LSU 105-98 in overtime in front of 7,918 fans inside Hofheinz Pavilion.
It was the largest home crowd to watch the Cougars play since 8,918 fans saw Houston fall to No. 1/1 Memphis on Jan. 30, 2008.
Forward Devonta Pollard was named to the All-American Athletic Conference Second Team, while Dotson earned Honorable Mention. Point guard Galen Robinson, Jr., was named to the league’s All-Rookie Team.
During his first season at Houston in 2014-15, Sampson and his staff were forced to move quickly after joining the program in April. Despite the brief introduction, Sampson guided the Cougars to 13 wins, including a 70-68 victory against defending national champion UConn in Hofheinz Pavilion.
Although the Cougars were forced to overcome injuries to multiple players at times, Houston finished the regular season as winners of its last three games and posted the American Athletic Conference Championships’ lone First-Round upset with a 66-60 win against Tulane.
The Cougars opened the season with wins in five of their first six games and claimed a dominating 82-69 win over Big 12 member Texas Tech during the final day of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic Championship Round.
His student-athletes also enjoyed success off the court. Forward Mikhail McLean was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team and later received his master’s degree in health education while guard LeRon Barnes earned his bachelor’s degree.
in NBA
Sampson joined the Cougars after spending the previous six seasons as an assistant coach in the NBA with the Houston Rockets (2011-14) and the Milwaukee Bucks (2008-11). During the 2012-13 season, he served as the Rockets’ acting head coach during coach Kevin McHale’s leave of absence and recorded a 7-6 mark.
In his first season with the Rockets, Houston lowered its points allowed from 103.7 points per game in 2010-11 to 97.9 in 2011-12.
As an assistant with the Bucks, he was member of a staff that oversaw Milwaukee’s defense rise from 15th in the NBA in points allowed per 100 possessions in 2008-09 to second in 2009-10 and fourth in 2010-11.
at INDIANA
He left Oklahoma to become Indiana’s head coach in 2006 and guided the Hoosiers to the 2007 NCAA Tournament and a pair of 20-win seasons during his tenure.
D.J. White was recognized as the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2008 and joined Eric Gordon on various All-America postseason teams that season.
After leaving Indiana in 2008, Sampson joined the San Antonio Spurs.
at OKLAHOMA
Sampson enjoyed tremendous success as the leader of Oklahoma Men’s Basketball from 1994 to 2006. He led the Sooners to the postseason every year of his tenure with NCAA Tournament appearances during each of his first nine seasons. That run was highlighted by a trip to the NCAA Final Four in 2002 and an appearance in the Elite Eight one year later.
Oklahoma earned a share of the 2005 Big 12 Conference regular-season title, captured three consecutive Big 12 Tournament championships from 2001 to 2003 and posted at least 20 wins during each of his final 10 seasons.
Under his watch, Hollis Price was honored as the 2003 Big 12 Player of the Year, while Ryan Minor was named the Big Eight Player of the Year.
Price and Minor joined Eduardo Najera on various All-America teams during their careers, while four Sooners (Michael Neal, Taj Gray, Ebe Ere and Corey Brewer were selected as the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year under Sampson’s leadership.
From 2000 to 2002, Sampson led the Sooners to one of the most successful stretches in school history. Oklahoma posted a combined 84-19 record, won three consecutive Big 12 Tournament titles and advanced to the 2002 NCAA Final Four and the 2003 NCAA Elite Eight.
In his final season in Norman, Sampson guided the Sooners to a 20-9 overall record, including an 11-5 mark in league action, and another berth in the NCAA Tournament.
In 2004-05, Sampson led the Sooners to a 25-8 overall mark and 12-4 record in Big 12 play to earn a share of the conference regular-season title.
During the 2002-03 season, the Sooners compiled a 27-7 overall record and reeled off consecutive wins against Colorado, Texas Tech and Missouri to win the Big 12 Tournament title and earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament.
In the postseason, Oklahoma knocked off South Carolina State, California and Butler before falling to No. 13 Syracuse in Albany, N.Y., during the Elite Eight.
In 2001-02, Sampson led the Sooners to a 31-5 record and a 13-3 mark in Big 12 play for a second-place finish. His win total tied as the second-highest mark in school single-season history.
Oklahoma also won its second straight Big 12 Tournament title under his leadership.
For its efforts, Oklahoma earned a No. 3 final Associated Press national ranking and stood fourth in the final ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll.
Sampson also was honored as the National Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and by Chevrolet following the season.
In 2000-01, Sampson guided the Sooners to a 26-7 overall record and its first conference tournament title in a decade. The Sooners enters the 2001 NCAA Tournament as a No. 4 seed and were ranked No. 13 nationally.
During the 1999-00 season, the Sooners finished with a 27-7 record, tying for the fifth-most wins in school single-season history at the time. Oklahoma entered the 2000 NCAA Tournament as a No. 3 seed and ranked No. 12 in the final Associated Press poll.
His achievements were not limited to the court. He was extensively involved in numerous Norman community organizations. Sampson has served as co-chairman of the United Way and Special Olympics, and he instituted the Sooner Reading Program, where OU players and staff visited every elementary school in the Norman area to communicate the importance of reading.
Sampson also participated in functions for the American Lung Association, American Cancer Society, Boys and Girls Clubs, Boy Scouts of America and the Children’s Miracle Network.
at WASHINGTON STATE
Sampson entered the NCAA Division I ranks as head coach at Washington State from 1987 to 1994. There, he compiled a 103-103 record and led the Cougars to postseason appearances in two of his final three seasons, including an NCAA Tournament berth in 1994.
Leading the Cougars to the 1992 NIT, Sampson guided Washington State to its first postseason appearance since 1983. For his team’s impressive performance, he was named the Kodak District 14 Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches for the second time in a three-year span.
He first won the award in 1991 when his Washington State squad posted a 16-12 overall record and produced the school’s first winning season since 1993. He also was honored as the Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 1992.
With records of 22-11 in 1992 and 20-11 in 1994, Sampson became one of only four men to win 20 or more games in Washington State single-season history.
Sampson was named head coach at Washington State in 1988 after serving as an assistant for Coach Len Stevens for two seasons.
EARLY COACHING CAREER
Sampson began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Michigan State in 1979-80 under Jud Heathcoate before moving to Montana Tech as an assistant coach in 1980.
One year later, he became Montana Tech’s head coach, leading the Orediggers to a 72-62 record in more than four years, including three straight 22-win seasons during each of his final three years there.
He led Montana Tech to three NAIA District 12 title games and was named the Frontier Conference Coach of the Year in 1985 and 1983. In the three years prior to his arrival, Montana Tech had won a combined 17 games.
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Sampson has also built an impressive resume at the international level. In the summer of 1995, he served as the head coach of the United States Junior National Team that competed during the Junior World Games in Athens, Greece. Leading a team of college freshmen and high schoolers, his squad posted a 4-4 record against the more experienced international competition.
Sampson was selected as an assistant coach at the Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia during the summer of 1994. That team earned a bronze medal and competed against USA Basketball’s Dream Team II following the games.
In 1993, Sampson was selected head coach of the West team at the U.S. Olympic Festival in San Antonio, Texas, and led his team to the silver medal.
In August 2005, he joined Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, Alabama’s Mark Gottfried, South Carolina’s Dave Odom, Charlotte’s Bobby Lutz, former Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins, former St. John’s coach Mike Jarvis and ESPN analyst Jay Bilas for “Operation Hardwood – Hoops with the Troops”, a five-day, eight-team U.S. Army troops basketball tournament in Kuwait.
Most recently, he served as an assistant coach for the 2012 Canadian National Team.
PERSONAL
Sampson was born in Laurinburg, N.C., and was an award-winning student-athlete at Pembroke High and later at UNC Pembroke. Playing for his father John W. “Ned” Sampson, he captained his high school basketball team for two years. He also competed as quarterback for the football team and catcher/outfielder for the baseball team.
Sampson earned a combined nine varsity letters and was an All-Three Rivers Conference selection in each of the three sports in 1973-74.
While at UNC Pembroke, Sampson focused on basketball and baseball. As a point guard, he led the Braves as team captain during his senior season and finished his collegiate career with four letters in basketball and three in baseball.
Off the court/field, he earned Dean’s List recognition and was awarded the Gregory Lowe Memorial Award as the school’s outstanding physical education major during his senior year.
Sampson received bachelor’s degrees in health and physical education and political science from UNC Pembroke in 1978. He earned his master’s degree in coaching and administration at Michigan State in 1980 after serving during the 1979-80 season as a graduate assistant under Jud Heathcoate. He then moved to Montana Tech after being named assistant coach.
He was inducted into the Montana Tech Hall of Fame in 1996 and into the UNC Pembroke Athletic Hall of Fame in February 1998.
Sampson and his wife, Karen, have a daughter, Lauren, who works as chief of staff for the team; a son, Kellen, who is an assistant coach with the Cougars; a granddaughter, Maisy, and a grandson, Kylen (children of Tonya and Kellen Sampson).
