History of Kelvin Sampson in Timeline

Kelvin Sampson is an American college basketball coach, currently the head coach for the University of Houston. He has achieved considerable success throughout his career, marked by leading multiple programs to national prominence and NCAA Tournament appearances. His coaching career includes stints at Washington State, Oklahoma, and Indiana. While at Oklahoma, Sampson led the Sooners to the NCAA Final Four in 2002. His career has faced scrutiny, including an NCAA investigation and subsequent penalties during his time at Indiana. Since taking over the Houston program in 2014, Sampson has rebuilt the Cougars into a national powerhouse, leading them to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Final Four run in 2021.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

October 5, 1955: Kelvin Sampson's Birth

On October 5, 1955, Kelvin Dale Sampson was born. He is an American college basketball coach.

Others born on this day/year

1983: Named Frontier Conference coach of the year

In 1983, Kelvin Sampson was named the Frontier Conference Coach of the Year while at Montana Tech.

1983: First postseason play since 1983

In 1992 Kelvin led Washington State to the NIT, marking the first time Washington State had participated in postseason play since 1983.

1983: Deepest run in the tournament since 1983

In 2019 Kelvin Sampson led the Cougars to a school-record 33 games, only the fourth 30-win season in school history, and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, their deepest run in the tournament since advancing all the way to the national championship game in 1983.

1984: First NCAA tournament game since 1984

In 2018 Houston posted its first Top 25 finish and won its first NCAA tournament game since 1984.

1984: First Final Four appearance since 1984

In 2021, Kelvin Sampson led Houston to its first conference tournament crown since 2010 and advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 1984.

1985: Named Frontier Conference coach of the year

In 1985, Kelvin Sampson was again named the Frontier Conference Coach of the Year while at Montana Tech.

1988: Named Head Coach of Washington State Cougars

In 1988, Kelvin Sampson was named the head coach of the Washington State Cougars.

1991: Named Kodak District 14 Coach of the Year

In 1991, Kelvin Sampson was named Kodak District 14 Coach of the Year by the NABC after producing the school's first winning season since 1983.

1992: Washington State participated in NIT; Named Pac-10 Coach of the Year

In 1992, Kelvin Sampson led Washington State to the NIT, marking their first postseason appearance since 1983. He was also named Kodak District 14 Coach of the Year and Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 1992.

1993: Head Coach at the U.S. Olympic Festival

In 1993, Kelvin Sampson was the head coach of the West team at the U.S. Olympic Festival in San Antonio, Texas. His squad won the silver medal.

April 25, 1994: Named Head Coach at the University of Oklahoma

On April 25, 1994, Kelvin Sampson became the 11th head coach at the University of Oklahoma.

1994: Led Cougars to NCAA Tournament Berth

In 1994, Kelvin Sampson led the Washington State Cougars to their first NCAA Tournament berth in 11 years.

1994: Coach at the Goodwill Games

In the summer of 1994, Kelvin Sampson coached at the Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia, as an assistant to George Raveling. The team earned a bronze medal.

1995: Named National Coach of the Year

In 1995, Kelvin Sampson was named national coach of the year by the Associated Press, United States Basketball Writers Association, and Basketball Weekly in his first year at the University of Oklahoma.

1995: Head Coach of United States Junior National Team

In the summer of 1995, Kelvin Sampson was the head coach of the United States Junior National Team that participated in the Junior World Games in Athens, Greece.

1996: Show-cause Effectively Prevented Sampson from Coaching

The show-cause order against Kelvin Sampson was similar to an incident that happened to Todd Bozeman, who was slapped with an eight-year show-cause order in 1996.

1999: Sweet Sixteen Appearance

In 1999, Kelvin Sampson directed the Oklahoma Sooners to a Sweet Sixteen appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

2001: Big 12 Tournament Win

In 2001, Kelvin Sampson led the Oklahoma Sooners to win the Big 12 tournament.

2002: Final Four Appearance and Big 12 Tournament Win

In 2002, Kelvin Sampson directed the Oklahoma Sooners to a Final Four appearance in the NCAA Tournament and won the Big 12 tournament.

2002: Assistant Coach for US National Team

In 2002, Kelvin Sampson served as an assistant coach under George Karl for the US national team in the FIBA World Championship.

2002: Reaching Final Four after a gap of over ten years

In 2021 Kelvin 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.

2003: Elite Eight Appearance and Big 12 Tournament Win

In 2003, Kelvin Sampson directed the Oklahoma Sooners to an Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA Tournament and won the Big 12 tournament.

2003: Formation of NABC Ethics Committee

In 2003, during Kelvin Sampson's tenure as President of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the Ethics Committee of the NABC was formed to address violations in college basketball.

2004: Coached Under-21 USA Team to Gold Medal

In 2004, Kelvin Sampson coached the Under-21 USA national team to a gold medal in the Under-21 Tournament of the Americas in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

March 29, 2006: Named Head Coach at Indiana University

On March 29, 2006, Kelvin Sampson was named the head coach at Indiana University.

2006: Todd Bozeman unable to find work

Todd Bozeman was slapped with an eight-year show-cause order in 1996 and was unable to find work in the college ranks again until 2006.

May 24, 2007: End of NCAA ban on recruiting

On May 24, 2007, the NCAA ban on Kelvin Sampson from recruiting off campus and making phone calls ended.

October 2007: Scrutiny for impermissible phone calls

In October 2007, Kelvin Sampson came under scrutiny for making impermissible phone calls as coach at Indiana University, violating NCAA sanctions.

2007: NCAA Rules Violation Begin

In 2007, the NCAA rules regarding sending text messages to recruits began to be violated by Kelvin Sampson, leading to allegations of serious NCAA violations.

February 8, 2008: NCAA alleges rules violations

On February 8, 2008, the NCAA informed Indiana University that Kelvin Sampson had committed five "major" rules violations.

February 14, 2008: ESPN Reports on Sampson's Coaching Status

On February 14, 2008, ESPN reported that Kelvin Sampson's status as coach of the Indiana Hoosiers would be decided on a "game-by-game basis" amid the ongoing investigation.

February 22, 2008: Resignation from Indiana University due to NCAA violations

On February 22, 2008, Kelvin Sampson was forced to resign from Indiana University due to allegations of serious NCAA violations related to sending text messages to recruits.

March 8, 2008: Hired as advisor for Spurs

On March 8, 2008, Kelvin Sampson was hired in an advisory role by the San Antonio Spurs.

May 14, 2008: Hired as assistant coach for the Bucks

On May 14, 2008, Kelvin Sampson was hired as assistant coach of the Milwaukee Bucks under Scott Skiles.

November 25, 2008: NCAA Issues Probation and Show-Cause Order

On November 25, 2008, the NCAA issued Indiana University three years' probation and imposed a five-year show-cause order on Kelvin Sampson due to violations during his tenure.

December 2008: Drug use allegations

In December 2008, Eric Gordon raised issues of drug use on the Indiana team, stating that some players were abusing drugs, and that Sampson tried to stop it.

2010: First conference tournament crown since 2010

In 2021, Kelvin Sampson led Houston to its first conference tournament crown since 2010.

2012: Assistant Coach for Canadian National Team

In the summer of 2012, Kelvin Sampson was an assistant coach for the Canadian national men's basketball team.

2013: Show-cause Effectively Prevented Sampson from Coaching

On November 25, 2008, the NCAA issued Indiana University three years' probation and imposed a five-year show-cause order on Kelvin Sampson due to violations during his tenure. Show-cause order effectively prevented Sampson from coaching at the major-college level until 2013.

2013: End of NCAA Rules Violation Period

The NCAA rules violation period for Kelvin Sampson ended in 2013, during which time text messages could not be sent to recruits.

April 2, 2014: Hired as Head Coach of Houston Cougars

On April 2, 2014, the Houston Cougars hired Kelvin Sampson to coach the men's basketball team following the expiration of his five-year show-cause penalty.

2014: End of Assistant Coach Tenure with Houston Rockets

Kelvin Sampson's tenure as an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets concluded in 2014.

2016: Push to Build Practice Facility

In 2016, Kelvin Sampson was instrumental in Houston's push to raise funds to build a $25 million practice facility.

2018: Renovation of Fertitta Center, Top 25 Finish, NCAA Tournament Win

In 2018, Kelvin Sampson oversaw a $60 million renovation to Hofheinz Pavilion (renamed the Fertitta Center). Houston posted its first Top 25 finish and won its first NCAA tournament game since 1984.

2019: Record-Breaking Season and Sweet Sixteen Appearance

In 2019, Kelvin Sampson led the Cougars to a school-record 33 wins and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, their deepest run in the tournament since 1983 and 1984.

2021: Conference Tournament Crown and Final Four Appearance

In 2021, Kelvin Sampson led Houston to its first conference tournament crown since 2010 and advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 1984.

2022: Conference Crown, Conference Tournament and Elite Eight

In 2022, Kelvin Sampson's Cougars overcame season-ending injuries to key players, won the regular-season American Athletic Conference crown and the conference tournament, and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. He was voted AAC Coach of the Year for the third time.