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Kelvin Sampson has built Houston basketball into an annual contender.
The Cougars' coach has helped them reach at least the Sweet 16 in six straight seasons (not including the COVID-19-canceled NCAA Tournament). However, Sampson will have the best chance at a first national championship in his storied 36-year career when 1-seed Houston takes on No. 1 Florida at 8:50 p.m. Monday from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, in the 2025 men's NCAA Tournament title game.
REQUIRED READING: Kelvin Sampson's old-school Houston program is a reminder of a disappearing era
Monday will mark the first championship game appearance for Sampson and the first for the Cougars since back-to-back trips in 1983-84. Houston's improbable run to its first national championship almost ended on Saturday, however, the Cougars overcame a 14-point second-half deficit to shock Cooper Flagg and Duke.
With the success Sampson has had in his career, and especially this season, fans may wonder how old the Houston coach is. Here's what you need to know about Sampson's age and his coaching career;
Sampson was born on Oct. 5, 1955, making him 69. He was the fourth oldest coach in this year's NCAA Tournament, as only St. Johns' Rick Pitino (72), Tennessee's Rick Barnes (70) and Michigan State's Tom Izzo (70) are currently older than Sampson.
The Cougars defeated Barnes and the Vols 69-50 in the Elite Eight on March 30. Sampson was born in Laurinburg, North Carolina and played college basketball at Pembroke State in Pembroke, North Carolina, from 1973 to 1978.
Sampson started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Michigan State during the 1979-80 season. Ahead of the 1980-81 season, he was hired as an assistant coach at Montana Tech. After serving as an interim coach, he was the head coach for the Orediggers from 1981-85, finishing his time with a 73-45 record.
Following the 1985 season, Sampson joined Len Stevens' staff as an assistant coach at Washington State. After two seasons, Sampson was named the head coach in 1988. He guided the team to its first postseason play since 1983 when WSU qualified for the NIT in 1992. He led the team to the NCAA Tournament in 1994.
Sampson was hired as Oklahoma's 11th head coach on April 25, 1994. He guided the Sooners to nine-straight 20-win seasons and owns the best winning percentage in school history at .719. Sampson led Oklahoma to the Final Four in 2022, the Elite Eight in 2003 and the Sweet 16 in 1999.
After Mike Davis resigned at Indiana, Sampson was named the head coach on March 29, 2006. He led the Hoosiers to a 21-11 record in his first season but was forced to resign in February 2008 during his second season due to allegations of NCAA violations, including texting recruits between 2007 and 2013, which was not allowed then.
Greg Popovich hired Sampson to an advisory role in 2008 before he accepted an assistant coaching position with the Milwaukee Bucks under Scott Skiles. In 2011, he was hired as an assistant with the Houston Rockets.
With his five-year show clause expired for coaching in college, the Cougars hired Sampson on April 2, 2014, to be their head coach.
Here's a look at Sampson's career coaching record:
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kelvin Sampson age: How old is Houston basketball head coach?
Continue reading...
The Cougars' coach has helped them reach at least the Sweet 16 in six straight seasons (not including the COVID-19-canceled NCAA Tournament). However, Sampson will have the best chance at a first national championship in his storied 36-year career when 1-seed Houston takes on No. 1 Florida at 8:50 p.m. Monday from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, in the 2025 men's NCAA Tournament title game.
REQUIRED READING: Kelvin Sampson's old-school Houston program is a reminder of a disappearing era
Monday will mark the first championship game appearance for Sampson and the first for the Cougars since back-to-back trips in 1983-84. Houston's improbable run to its first national championship almost ended on Saturday, however, the Cougars overcame a 14-point second-half deficit to shock Cooper Flagg and Duke.
With the success Sampson has had in his career, and especially this season, fans may wonder how old the Houston coach is. Here's what you need to know about Sampson's age and his coaching career;
Kelvin Sampson age
Sampson was born on Oct. 5, 1955, making him 69. He was the fourth oldest coach in this year's NCAA Tournament, as only St. Johns' Rick Pitino (72), Tennessee's Rick Barnes (70) and Michigan State's Tom Izzo (70) are currently older than Sampson.
The Cougars defeated Barnes and the Vols 69-50 in the Elite Eight on March 30. Sampson was born in Laurinburg, North Carolina and played college basketball at Pembroke State in Pembroke, North Carolina, from 1973 to 1978.
Kelvin Sampson coaching record
Sampson started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Michigan State during the 1979-80 season. Ahead of the 1980-81 season, he was hired as an assistant coach at Montana Tech. After serving as an interim coach, he was the head coach for the Orediggers from 1981-85, finishing his time with a 73-45 record.
Following the 1985 season, Sampson joined Len Stevens' staff as an assistant coach at Washington State. After two seasons, Sampson was named the head coach in 1988. He guided the team to its first postseason play since 1983 when WSU qualified for the NIT in 1992. He led the team to the NCAA Tournament in 1994.
Sampson was hired as Oklahoma's 11th head coach on April 25, 1994. He guided the Sooners to nine-straight 20-win seasons and owns the best winning percentage in school history at .719. Sampson led Oklahoma to the Final Four in 2022, the Elite Eight in 2003 and the Sweet 16 in 1999.
After Mike Davis resigned at Indiana, Sampson was named the head coach on March 29, 2006. He led the Hoosiers to a 21-11 record in his first season but was forced to resign in February 2008 during his second season due to allegations of NCAA violations, including texting recruits between 2007 and 2013, which was not allowed then.
Greg Popovich hired Sampson to an advisory role in 2008 before he accepted an assistant coaching position with the Milwaukee Bucks under Scott Skiles. In 2011, he was hired as an assistant with the Houston Rockets.
With his five-year show clause expired for coaching in college, the Cougars hired Sampson on April 2, 2014, to be their head coach.
Here's a look at Sampson's career coaching record:
- 1981-82 (Montana Tech): 7-20
- 1982-83 (Montana Tech): 22-9
- 1983-84 (Montana Tech): 22-7
- 1984-85 (Montana Tech): 22-9
- 1987-88 (Washington State): 13-16
- 1988-89 (Washington State): 10-19
- 1989-90 (Washington State): 7-22
- 1990-91 (Washington State): 16-12
- 1991-92 (Washington State): 22-11
- 1992-93 (Washington State): 15-12
- 1993-94 (Washington State): 20-11
- 1994-95 (Oklahoma): 23-9
- 1995-96 (Oklahoma): 18-12
- 1996-97 (Oklahoma): 19-11
- 1997-98 (Oklahoma): 22-11
- 1998-99 (Oklahoma): 22-11 (Sweet 16)
- 1999-00 (Oklahoma): 27-7
- 2000-01 (Oklahoma): 26-7
- 2001-02 (Oklahoma): 31-5 (Final Four)
- 2002-03 (Oklahoma): 27-7 (Elite Eight)
- 2003-04 (Oklahoma): 20-11
- 2004-05 (Oklahoma): 25-8
- 2005-06 (Oklahoma): 20-9
- 2006-07 (Indiana): 21-11
- 2007-08 (Indiana): 22-4
- 2014-15 (Houston): 13-19
- 2015-16 (Houston): 22-10
- 2016-17 (Houston): 21-11
- 2017-18 (Houston): 27-8
- 2018-19 (Houston): 33-4 (Sweet 16)
- 2019-20 (Houston): 23-8
- 2020-21 (Houston): 28-4 (Final Four)
- 2021-22 (Houston): 32-6 (Elite Eight)
- 2022-23 (Houston): 33-4 (Sweet 16)
- 2023-24 (Houston): 32-5 (Sweet 16)
- 2024-25 (Houston): 35-4 (National championship game)
- Career: 798-354
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kelvin Sampson age: How old is Houston basketball head coach?
Continue reading...
