Kelvin Sampson#Controversy

Sampson was born in Laurinburg, North Carolina, to parents who were members of the Lumbee Native American community of Deep Branch in Robeson County, North Carolina, in which he was reared. Sampson excelled in the classroom and the athletic arena during his prep days at Pembroke High School, in Pembroke, North Carolina. Sampson was captain of his high school basketball team for two years, and played for his father John W. "Ned" Sampson, who was later named to the UNC Pembroke Athletics Hall of Fame.{{Cite web|url=https://uncpbraves.com/honors/hall-of-fame|title=Hall of Fame|website=UNCP Athletics}} His father was also one of the 500 Lumbee Native Americans who made national news by driving the Ku Klux Klan out of Maxton, North Carolina in what is annually celebrated by the Lumbee as the Battle of Hayes Pond.{{cite news|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10000633-houstons-kelvin-sampson-discusses-father-racist-experiences-growing-up-in-nc|title=Houston's Kelvin Sampson Discusses Father, Racist Experiences Growing Up in NC| date=April 2, 2021|publisher=Bleacher Report}} Later he played at Pembroke State University (now UNC Pembroke), concentrating on basketball and baseball.{{cite news|url=https://www.uncp.edu/news/sampsons-continued-success-fills-uncp-pride|title=Sampson's continued success fills UNCP with pride| date=April 6, 2021|publisher=University of North Carolina at Pembroke}} He earned four letters in basketball and three in baseball, and was team captain of the basketball team as a senior.{{cite news|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/college/article/Kelvin-Sampson-s-passion-play-baseball-15254502.php|title=Kelvin Sampson's passion play: baseball| date=May 8, 2020|publisher=Houston Chronicle}} He also earned Dean's List recognition throughout his collegiate career and received the Gregory Lowe Memorial Award as the school's outstanding physical education major his senior year.

After earning degrees from Pembroke State in both health and physical education and political science, Sampson pursued his master's degree in coaching and administration at Michigan State University. He left with his degree and a year's experience as a graduate assistant under Jud Heathcote.{{cite news|url=https://excusemythoughts.com/the-unlikely-journey-of-kelvin-sampson/|title=The Unlikely Journey of Kelvin Sampson| date=April 3, 2021|publisher=excusemythoughts.com}}

After leaving Michigan State, Sampson moved to Montana Tech (of the NAIA) in Butte, where he became assistant coach. After serving as an interim coach for one season, Sampson guided the Orediggers to a 73–45 record in his final four seasons. Montana Tech had won just 17 games combined in the three years before his arrival. Sampson turned in three consecutive 22-win seasons and claimed three Frontier Conference championships at Montana Tech. He led his teams to two NAIA District 12 title games and was named the league's coach of the year in 1983 and 1985.

After five years at Montana Tech, Sampson joined the staff at Washington State University in June 1985 under head coach Len Stevens, replacing Stu Jackson as assistant coach.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ybESAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rPkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2528%2C1845269 |work=Spokane Chronicle |location=(Washington) |last=Weaver |first=Dan |title=Other stuff |date=June 10, 1985 |page=C1}}{{cite news |url=https://content.libraries.wsu.edu/digital/collection/evergreens/id/91987/rec/92 |work=Daily Evergreen |location=(Pullman, Washington) |agency=(Washington State University) |last=Mansfield |first=Mark |title=Cougs add new hoop coach |date=August 29, 1985 |page=8}} Two years later in April 1987, Stevens left the Palouse for Nevada and Sampson was promoted to head coach at age 31, with a two-year contract and a base salary of $42,500 per year.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sZMrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t9AFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5632%2C1088619 |work=Idahonian |location=(Moscow) |title=Sampson accepts Cougar challenge |date=April 10, 1987 |page=1}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gagpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ee8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6717%2C5546821 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |last=Bergum |first=Steve |title=Sampson christens a new era at WSU |date=April 11, 1987 |page=B1}} When he led the Cougars to the NIT in 1992, it was Washington State's first postseason appearance in nine years. Sampson was named Kodak District 14 Coach of the Year by the NABC for the second time in three years; he first won it in 1991 when the Cougars produced their first winning season since 1983. Sampson was also named Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 1992. In his final year in Pullman in 1994, he led WSU to their first NCAA tournament berth in eleven years. With records of 22–11 in 1992 and 20–11 in 1994, Sampson became one of only four men to win twenty or more games in a single season in Washington State history; he finished with a 103–103 record in his seven seasons as head coach.

Sampson became the 11th head coach at the University of Oklahoma on April 25, 1994.{{Cite web|url=http://newsok.com/article/2464168|title=Sooners to Name Sampson Today|date=1994-04-25|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-12}} Sampson was named national coach of the year in 1995 (his first year at OU) by the Associated Press, United States Basketball Writers Association and Basketball Weekly after guiding the Sooners to 23–9 overall and 15–0 home marks. It was the second-best overall record posted by a first-year coach in Big 8 history.

Sampson possesses the highest winning percentage in Oklahoma history (.719). He guided OU to nine consecutive 20-win seasons. He averaged 24.4 wins over those nine campaigns. He directed the Sooners to postseason tournament berths in each of his 12 seasons (11 NCAA Tournaments), with a Sweet 16 showing in 1999, a Final Four appearance in 2002 and an Elite Eight appearance in 2003. His teams also played in the Big 12 tournament title game on five occasions during the 10 seasons he coached in the Big 12. In 2001, 2002, and 2003, the Sooners won that tournament. Sampson finished with a Big 12 Tournament record of 17–7. His 279 wins are second in school history, behind only Billy Tubbs.

The University of Oklahoma is where Sampson earned his nickname "Mr. Blue Shirt" as he only wore blue dress shirts when he coached.{{Cite web|url=https://www.okgazette.com/news/indiana-university-plays-blame-game-with-former-oklahoma-coach-2963714|title=Indiana University plays blame game with former Oklahoma coach|date=2008-10-09|language=en-US|access-date=2023-03-21}}

On March 29, 2006, Sampson was named the head coach at Indiana University following the resignation of Mike Davis.{{Cite web|url=http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2006/3/29/Sampson_Named_Hoosiers_Head_Coach.aspx|title=Sampson Named Hoosiers' Head Coach|website=Indiana University|access-date=2016-07-12}} Sampson was the second minority coach in the history of the Hoosier basketball program behind Davis. Upon taking the reins of the Indiana Hoosiers he noted, "I love my job at Oklahoma and I would not leave OU for any job unless it was a job like Indiana. My family and I have had 12 great years at Oklahoma, the best years of our life, but Indiana is one of the great programs in college basketball and if they call and offer, it is a job as a coach that you have to take."{{cite web|url=http://oklahoma.scout.com/2/514202.html|access-date=2008-02-22|title=Sampson headed to Indiana|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129085510/http://oklahoma.scout.com/2/514202.html|archive-date=2014-11-29|url-status=dead}}

In his first season at Indiana, Sampson led the Hoosiers to a 21–11 record overall and a 34th appearance in the NCAA tournament as a 7th seed in the West. Indiana beat first round opponent Gonzaga, losing in the second round to eventual Regional Champion UCLA, 54–49.

On February 22, 2008, Sampson was forced to resign due to allegations of serious NCAA violations,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/23/sports/ncaabasketball/23indiana.html|title=Sampson Forced Out at Indiana|last=The Associated Press|date=2008-02-23|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-07-12}} which included sending text messages to recruits, something that was against NCAA rules between 2007 and 2013. As a result of these allegations, Sampson received a five-year show-cause penalty.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=3725832|title=NCAA punishes Sampson; Indiana on probation|date=2008-11-26|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2016-07-12}} See NCAA violations section below.

On March 8, 2008, Sampson was hired in an advisory role by the San Antonio Spurs, {{cite web|url=http://newsok.com/article/3213812|access-date=2008-03-22|title=Spurs hire Kelvin Sampson}} before accepting a role on May 14, 2008, as assistant coach of the Bucks under Scott Skiles.

In 2011, he became an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets before returning to the NCAA in 2014.

File:Kelvin Sampson coaching Houston.jpg

Following the expiration of the five-year show cause penalty, the Houston Cougars hired Sampson to coach the men's basketball team on April 2, 2014.{{cite news|url=http://m.chron.com/sports/cougars/article/UH-nears-deal-to-hire-Kelvin-Sampson-as-men-s-5370990.php|title=UH nears deal to hire Kelvin Sampson as men's basketball coach|first=Joseph|last=Duarte|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=April 2, 2014}} Sampson was instrumental in Houston's push to raise funds to build a $25 million practice facility in 2016 and a $60 million renovation to Hofheinz Pavilion (renamed the Fertitta Center) in 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/sports/2023/01/05/440624/houston-87-53-win-smu-reminder-how-far-cougars-program-has-come-under-kelvin-sampson/|title=Houston's 87-53 win over SMU a reminder of how far UH program has come under Kelvin Sampson|date=2023-01-05|website=houstonpublicmedia.com|access-date=2023-06-04}} Sampson led Houston to the NIT in his second and third seasons. In 2018, Houston posted its first Top 25 finish since 1984 and won its first NCAA tournament game also since 1984. In 2019, the Cougars won a school-record 33 games, only the fourth 30-win season in school history. They also advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, their deepest run in the tournament since advancing all the way to the national championship game in 1983 and 1984.{{Cite web|url=https://abc13.com/university-of-houston-march-madness-sweet-16-cougars/5225816/|title=Houston cougars fall to Kentucky 62-58 in Sweet 16 clash|date=2019-03-30|website=abc13.com|access-date=2023-06-04}}

File:Kevin Sampson being interviewed by CBS Sports' Matt Norlander prior to Houston's 2025 Final Four game against Duke at the Alamodome.jpg prior to Houston's 2025 Final Four win against Duke at the Alamodome.]]

In 2021, Sampson led Houston to its first conference tournament crown since 2010. In the NCAA Tournament the Cougars, who became the first team to play four schools seeded tenth or higher, defeated Oregon State to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 1984. Sampson became the fifteenth coach to have reached a Final Four again after a gap of over ten years, having last reached the Final Four in 2002 (only Ray Meyer, Lon Kruger, and Lou Henson had a longer gap between Final Four appearances).{{cite news|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/how-kelvin-sampson-repaired-his-career-at-houston-and-resurrected-the-cougars-who-are-back-in-the-final-four/|title=How Kelvin Sampson repaired his career at Houston and resurrected the Cougars, who are back in the Final Four|first=Matt|last=Norlander|newspaper=CBS Sports|date=March 30, 2021}} In 2022, Sampson's Cougars overcame season-ending injuries to two key players to win both the regular-season American Athletic Conference crown and the conference tournament and proceeded to advance to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. They finished with a record of 32–6 and a ranking of #7 in the Coaches Poll,[https://uhcougars.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2021-22 UH Men's Basketball].Retrieved 2022-07-14. and Sampson was voted AAC Coach of the Year for the third time.[https://www.coachesdatabase.com/aac-coach-of-the-year/ List of AAC Coach of the Year winners]. Coaches Database. Retrieved 2022-07-14.

In 2025, Sampson's Cougars were a #1 seed entering the NCAA tournament. After reaching the Final Four, the Cougars pulled a stunning upset of heavily favored Duke. Down 45–59 with eight minutes left, the Cougars ended the game with a 25–8 run, defeating Duke by a score of 70–67, and setting up a clash against Florida for the championship.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2025/04/05/duke-houston-final-four-march-madness/82958343007/|title=Houston stuns Duke with furious rally at Final Four to reach title game of March Madness|first=Jordan|last=Mendoza|newspaper=USA Today|date=April 5, 2025}} They went on to lose to Florida, 63–65.

Sampson is currently the second-winningest coach in UH history, behind only Hall of Famer Guy Lewis.

Sampson played a role in the controversial recruitment of star player Eric Gordon, who signed with Indiana after reneging on an early verbal commitment to the University of Illinois. Sampson was criticized by fellow coaches for failing to communicate with then-Illinois coach Bruce Weber about the recruitment,{{cite web|url=http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/tct/2006/10/30/0610300151.php|title=Hoosiers-Illini Recruiting Feud a Hot Topic|date=5 June 1988 |access-date=2008-01-01}} and hiring people close to Gordon to gain favor.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsline.com/columns/story/10411974 |access-date=2008-02-09 |title=A few wins gets Sampson some cheating immunity |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018071627/http://www.sportsline.com/columns/story/10411974 |archive-date=2007-10-18 }} Some observers said that Sampson's recruitment of the verbally committed Gordon was unethical, but legal.

In addition to the Gordon incident, Sampson has been in the middle of a number of other controversies. Under Sampson's watch, Oklahoma was placed under a three-year investigation by the NCAA for recruiting violations. At the end of their investigation, the NCAA issued a report citing more than 550 impermissible calls made by Sampson and his staff to 17 different recruits. The NCAA barred Sampson from recruiting off campus and making phone calls for one year, ending May 24, 2007.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=2457878|title=Sampson barred from off-campus recruiting|date=25 May 2006 |access-date=2008-02-22}}

Prior to the findings by the NCAA, Kelvin Sampson was the President of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), an organization that supports basketball coaches across the country. During his tenure the Ethics Committee of the NABC was formed to address the many problems with violations that college basketball faced going into the 2003 season. That very same Ethics Committee would later reprimand Kelvin Sampson as a result of the NCAA findings, placing him on probation for three years, during which time he would not be eligible to serve in any official capacity for the NABC, be considered for Coach of the Year honors, or receive Final Four ticket privileges.{{cite web|url=http://nabc.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/081506aaa.html|access-date=2008-02-22|title=NABC Ethics Committee Reprimands Coach Kelvin Sampson|archive-date=2008-02-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220050305/http://nabc.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/081506aaa.html|url-status=dead}}

As coach at Indiana in October 2007, Sampson again came under scrutiny for making impermissible phone calls. Despite being restricted from making any outbound recruiting phone calls, Sampson participated in approximately 10 conference calls with recruits that violate the terms of the sanctions levied against him by the NCAA. IU assistant Rob Senderoff (who later resigned) also made some 35 impermissible phone calls to recruits from his home. On February 8, 2008, the NCAA informed Indiana that Sampson had committed five "major" rules violations. The NCAA alleged that Sampson knowingly violated telephone recruiting restrictions imposed on him. More seriously, the NCAA also alleged that Sampson lied to IU and NCAA officials regarding his involvement in the impermissible calls.{{Cite web|url=https://assets.espn.go.com/media/pdf/080213/ncb_noticeofallegations.pdf|title=NCAA notice of allegations against Sampson}}

Indiana launched an internal investigation that school president Michael McRobbie said would take seven days. On February 14, 2008, ESPN reported that Sampson's status as coach of the Hoosiers would be decided on a "game-by-game basis".{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=3245936|access-date=2008-02-14|title=Source: Sampson's status as coach appears to be game-by-game|date=14 February 2008 }} Fox Sports reported that Sampson was to be fired on February 22, 2008,{{cite web|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/7824932?MSNHPHMA |access-date=2008-02-21 |title=Sources: Indiana Fires Sampson |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080223085813/http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/7824932?MSNHPHMA |archive-date=2008-02-23 }} but later reports indicated that Sampson would be suspended without pay. Eventually it was announced that Sampson would resign, reaching a $750,000 settlement with Indiana. In return, Sampson agreed not to sue Indiana for wrongful termination. Assistant Dan Dakich was named as interim head coach for the rest of the season.{{Cite web |date=22 February 2008 |title=Indiana, Sampson reach $750,000 settlement to part ways |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=3258506 |access-date=2008-02-22 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}

According to many college basketball pundits, however, Sampson had virtually no chance of keeping his job once the allegations broke. Sports Illustrated college basketball columnist Seth Davis implied that Indiana officials had already decided Sampson was guilty, based on the fact that its internal investigation would only last a week. The NCAA had given Indiana 90 days to respond to the notice.{{cite news |first=Seth |last=Davis |author-link=Seth Davis |title=End of a sad saga |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/seth_davis/02/22/kelvin.sampson/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226071343/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/seth_davis/02/22/kelvin.sampson/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 26, 2008 |publisher=Sports Illustrated |date=2008-02-22 |access-date=2008-02-23 }} ESPN's Mark Schlabach suggested that Indiana wanted to look for a reason not to pay the remaining money he was owed on his contract, and also wanted to eliminate any chance of being sued. He also said that the only reason Sampson was allowed to continue coaching was because his contract didn't allow the school to suspend him immediately.{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Schlabach |title=IU's Sampson investigation is a moot point |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=3248229 |publisher=ESPN |date=2008-02-15 |access-date=2008-02-23 }} ESPN's Pat Forde said that Sampson's departure was "preordained" the moment the NCAA sent out its notice of allegations, and suggested that Sampson might never coach in Division I again.{{cite news |first=Pat |last=Forde |title=Dark day at Indiana ends a messy, ugly saga with Sampson |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3259751 |publisher=ESPN |date=2008-02-15 |access-date=2008-02-23 }}

During a private meeting with the NCAA infractions committee on June 30, McRobbie apologized for hiring Sampson and called that decision a mistake. McRobbie said that Sampson betrayed his trust as Indiana's coach, and demonstrated that his hiring had been "a risk that should not have been taken."[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=3468144 McRobbie: Sampson hiring 'a risk that should not have been taken']. Associated Press via ESPN, 2008-06-30.

On November 25, 2008, the NCAA issued Indiana three years' probation for violations largely tied to Sampson's watch. It also imposed a five-year show-cause order on Sampson, meaning that any NCAA member school who wanted to hire Sampson while the order was in effect would have to impose sanctions on him unless it can "show cause" that Sampson has served his punishment. As most NCAA members will not consider hiring a coach with an outstanding show-cause order, the show-cause effectively prevented Sampson from coaching at the major-college level until 2013. A similar incident happened to Todd Bozeman, who was slapped with an eight-year show-cause order in 1996 and was unable to find work in the college ranks again until 2006. Senderoff, now head coach at Kent State, was hit with a three-year show-cause order.{{cite web | last=Katz | first=Andy | title=NCAA punishes Sampson; Indiana on probation | website=ESPN.com | date=2008-11-25 | url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=3725832 | access-date=2025-02-01}} When he was hired at Houston, Sampson became only the fourth coach to get a head coaching job at another school after receiving a show-cause (after Bozeman, Senderoff and Bruce Pearl).

In December 2008, Eric Gordon raised issues of drug use on the Indiana team, stating that some players were abusing drugs and that this led to the disintegration of the team, and that Sampson tried to stop it, but did not as he was focused on winning.Rabjohns, Jeff. - [http://www.indystar.com/article/20081218/SPORTS0601/812180410/1004/SPORTS "Gordon: Players' drug use wrecked IU season"]. - The Indianapolis Star. - December 18, 2008.

Sampson coached the 2004 Under-21 USA national team to a gold medal in Under-21 Tournament of the Americas in Halifax, Nova Scotia, after it posted a 5–0 record. He was an assistant coach under George Karl for the US national team in the 2002 FIBA World Championship.{{Cite web|url=http://www.usabasketball.com/history/mwc_2002.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714071037/http://www.usabasketball.com/history/mwc_2002.html|url-status=dead|title=2002 USA Basketball|archivedate=July 14, 2007}} Sampson was also the head coach of the United States Junior National Team that participated in the Junior World Games in Athens, Greece, in the summer of 1995.

In the summer of 1994, Sampson was selected to coach at the Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia. He served as an assistant to former Southern California head coach George Raveling. The 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. His squad won the silver medal.

In the summer of 2012, Sampson was assistant coach of the Canadian national men's basketball team. Steve Nash was the team's general manager and Jay Triano, the head coach.

Sampson is married to Karen Lowry. They have one daughter, Lauren, and one son, Kellen. Lauren is the Men's Basketball Director of External Operations at the University of Houston, and Kellen is an assistant coach, also at Houston.{{Cite news |last=Creech |first=Jenny Dial |date=January 24, 2017 |title=Kelvin and Kellen Sampson make coaching UH a family affair |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/columnists/dialcreech/article/Kelvin-and-Kellen-Sampson-make-coaching-UH-a-10881665.php |access-date=2025-04-09 |publisher=Houston Chronicle}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Start | type = | conference = | postseason = | poll = }}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Montana Tech Orediggers

| conference = Frontier Conference

| startyear = 1981

| endyear = 1985

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 1981–82

| name = Montana Tech

| overall = 7–20

| conference = 0–15

| confstanding = 6th

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference tournament

| season = 1982–83

| name = Montana Tech

| overall = 22–9

| conference = 10–5

| confstanding = 3rd

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| season = 1983–84

| name = Montana Tech

| overall = 22–7

| conference = 11–4

| confstanding = T–1st

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| season = 1984–85

| name = Montana Tech

| overall = 22–9

| conference = 12–3

| confstanding = 1st

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Montana Tech

| overall = {{winpct|73|45|record=y}}

| confrecord = {{winpct|33|27|record=y}}

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Washington State Cougars

| conference = Pacific-10 Conference

| startyear = 1987

| endyear = 1994

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 1987–88

| name = Washington State

| overall = 13–16

| conference = 7–11

| confstanding = 6th

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 1988–89

| name = Washington State

| overall = 10–19

| conference = 4–14

| confstanding = 8th

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 1989–90

| name = Washington State

| overall = 7–22

| conference = 1–17

| confstanding = 10th

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 1990–91

| name = Washington State

| overall = 16–12

| conference = 8–10

| confstanding = T–5th

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 1991–92

| name = Washington State

| overall = 22–11

| conference = 9–9

| confstanding = T–5th

| postseason = NIT Second Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 1992–93

| name = Washington State

| overall = 15–12

| conference = 9–9

| confstanding = T–5th

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 1993–94

| name = Washington State

| overall = 20–11

| conference = 10–8

| confstanding = 4th

| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 64

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Washington State

| overall = {{winpct|103|103|record=y}}

| confrecord = {{winpct|48|78|record=y}}

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Oklahoma Sooners

| conference = Big Eight Conference

| startyear = 1994

| endyear = 1996

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 1994–95

| name = Oklahoma

| overall = 23–9

| conference = 9–5

| confstanding = 3rd

| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 64

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 1995–96

| name = Oklahoma

| overall = 18–12

| conference = 8–6

| confstanding = 3rd

| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 64

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Oklahoma Sooners

| conference = Big 12 Conference

| startyear = 1996

| endyear = 2006

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 1996–97

| name = Oklahoma

| overall = 19–11

| conference = 9–7

| confstanding = 6th

| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 64

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 1997–98

| name = Oklahoma

| overall = 22–11

| conference = 11–5

| confstanding = T–2nd

| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 64

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 1998–99

| name = Oklahoma

| overall = 22–11

| conference = 11–5

| confstanding = T–2nd

| postseason = NCAA Division I Sweet 16

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 1999–00

| name = Oklahoma

| overall = 27–7

| conference = 12–4

| confstanding = T–3rd

| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 32

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference tournament

| season = 2000–01

| name = Oklahoma

| overall = 26–7

| conference = 12–4

| confstanding = T–2nd

| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 64

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference tournament

| season = 2001–02

| name = Oklahoma

| overall = 31–5

| conference = 13–3

| confstanding = 2nd

| postseason = NCAA Division I Final Four

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference tournament

| season = 2002–03

| name = Oklahoma

| overall = 27–7

| conference = 12–4

| confstanding = 3rd

| postseason = NCAA Division I Elite Eight

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 2003–04

| name = Oklahoma

| overall = 20–11

| conference = 8–8

| confstanding = 7th

| postseason = NIT Second Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| season = 2004–05

| name = Oklahoma

| overall = 25–8

| conference = 12–4

| confstanding = T–1st

| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 32

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 2005–06

| name = Oklahoma

| overall = 20–9

| conference = 11–5

| confstanding = 3rd

| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 64

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Oklahoma

| overall = {{winpct|280|108|record=y}}

| confrecord = {{winpct|128|60|record=y}}

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Indiana Hoosiers

| conference = Big Ten Conference

| startyear = 2006

| endyear = 2008

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 2006–07

| name = Indiana

| overall = 21–11

| conference = 10–6

| confstanding = 3rd

| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 32

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 2007–08

| name = Indiana

| overall = 22–4

| conference = 11–2

| confstanding = –

| postseason = *

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Indiana

| overall = {{winpct|43|15|record=y}}

| confrecord = {{winpct|21|8|record=y}}

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Houston Cougars

| conference = American Athletic Conference

| startyear = 2014

| endyear = 2023

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 2014–15

| name = Houston

| overall = 13–19

| conference = 4–14

| confstanding = 10th

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 2015–16

| name = Houston

| overall = 22–10

| conference = 12–6

| confstanding = T–3rd

| postseason = NIT First Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 2016–17

| name = Houston

| overall = 21–11

| conference = 12–6

| confstanding = 3rd

| postseason = NIT First Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 2017–18

| name = Houston

| overall = 27–8

| conference = 14–4

| confstanding = T–2nd

| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 32

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| season = 2018–19

| name = Houston

| overall = 33–4

| conference = 16–2

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NCAA Division I Sweet 16

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| season = 2019–20

| name = Houston

| overall = 23–8

| conference = 13–5

| confstanding = T–1st

| postseason = No postseason held

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference tournament

| season = 2020–21

| name = Houston

| overall = 28–4

| conference = 14–3

| confstanding = 2nd

| postseason = NCAA Division I Final Four

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| season = 2021–22

| name = Houston

| overall = 32–6

| conference = 15–3

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NCAA Division I Elite Eight

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| season = 2022–23

| name = Houston

| overall = 33–4

| conference = 17–1

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NCAA Division I Sweet 16

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Houston Cougars

| conference = Big 12 Conference

| startyear = 2023

| endyear =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| season = 2023–24

| name = Houston

| overall = 32–5

| conference = 15–3

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NCAA Division I Sweet 16

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| season = 2024–25

| name = Houston

| overall = 35–5

| conference = 19–1

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NCAA Division I Runner-up

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Houston

| overall = {{winpct|299|84|record=y}}

| confrecord = {{winpct|151|48|record=y}}

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record End

| overall = {{winpct|798|355|record=y}}

}}

• Sampson resigned on February 22, 2008, and was replaced by assistant Dan Dakich for the remainder of the season. Indiana credits the last seven games of the season to Dakich.
• In some sources, Sampson's 1996–97 record with Oklahoma is given as 20–10 overall, 10–6 in Big 12 conference games, based on the fact that Texas Tech, which was 1–1 versus Oklahoma in Big 12 play that season, would later have all its 1996–97 conference wins vacated due to participation by ineligible personnel.

• List of college men's basketball career coaching wins leaders
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four appearances by coach

{{Commons category|Kelvin Sampson}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sampson, Kelvin}}

Category:1955 births

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