Kelvin Sampson is an American college basketball coach. Currently (as of March 2024), he serves as head coach for University of Houston, a position he held since 2014. Prior to joining University of Houston, he worked as an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets from 2011 to 2014, and for the Milwaukee Bucks from 2008 to 2011.
He held various head coach positions, including at Washington State from 1987 to 1994, Oklahoma from 1994 to 2006, Indiana from 2006 to 2008. Throughout his career, he has also received several awards and accolades.
Some of the coaching awards Sampson has received include the AP Coach of the Year in 1995, NABC Coach of the Year in 2002, and the Henry Iba Award in 1995 and 2024. In addition to these, he has been honoured with the John McLendon Award in 2021, the Ben Jobe Award in 2022, and the Big 12 Coach of the Year in 2024.
Kelvin Sampson’s NCAA Tournament Record
Kelvin Sampson has established himself as a prominent figure in the NCAA Division I men's basketball coaching. Since the beginning of his coaching career, Sampson has led various basketball teams to compete in several NCAA Division I men's basketball tournaments. As of the 2023-2024 season, his record stands at 26-18.
Kelvin Sampson’s Sweet 16 Record
Throughout his coaching career, Kelvin Sampson has made it to the NCAA Division I Sweet 16 three times. His first appearance in the Sweet 16 tournament was in the 1998-1999 season when he served as the head coach for the Oklahoma men's basketball team. After that, he led the Houston Cougars men's basketball team to the Sweet 16 in both 2018-2019 and 2022-2023 seasons.
Kelvin Sampson’s Elite Eight Record
Kelvin Sampson has made two appearances in the NCAA Elite Eight. During the 2002-2003 season, Kelvin Sampson, as the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team, led them to NCAA Elite Eight appearance which marked his first appearance in the Elite Eight as head coach.
And then, in the 2021-2022 season, Kelvin Sampson made his second appearance in the NCAA Elite Eight. This time, he was the head coach of the Houston Cougars men's basketball team. Under his leadership, the team was able to reach the first standing in the Elite Eight.
Kelvin Sampson’s Final Four Record
Kelvin Sampson has appeared in the NCAA Final Four two times throughout his career as of 2023-24. His initial appearance took place during the 2001-2002 season when he served as head coach for the Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team. During this tournament, he led his team to second-place standing.
In the 2020-2021 season, Kelvin Sampson once again appeared in the NCAA Final Four, this time as the head coach for the Houston Cougars men's basketball team. With his guidance and leadership, the team finished in the second standings.
Kelvin Sampson’s National Championships
Kelvin Sampson has not made it to the National Championship yet throughout his career as a head coach.
Kelvin Sampson NCAA Tournament Year by Year Finishes
Kelvin Sampson as a head coach since 1981 has earned appearances in numerous NCAA tournaments with multiple college basketball teams. Since 1981, when Sampson began his head coaching career he has led several college basketball teams to NCAA tournaments.
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason |
| Montana Tech Orediggers (Frontier Conference) (1981–1985) | |||||
| 1981–82 | Montana Tech | 7–20 | 0–15 | 6th | |
| 1982–83 | Montana Tech | 22–9 | 10–5 | 3rd | |
| 1983–84 | Montana Tech | 22–7 | 11–4 | T–1st | |
| 1984–85 | Montana Tech | 22–9 | 12–3 | 1st | |
| Montana Tech: | 73–45 (.619) | 33–27 (.550) | |||
| Washington State Cougars (Pacific-10 Conference) (1987–1994) | |||||
| 1987–88 | Washington State | 13–16 | 7–11 | 6th | |
| 1988–89 | Washington State | 10–19 | 4–14 | 8th | |
| 1989–90 | Washington State | 7–22 | 1–17 | 10th | |
| 1990–91 | Washington State | 16–12 | 8–10 | T–5th | |
| 1991–92 | Washington State | 22–11 | 9–9 | T–5th | NIT Second Round |
| 1992–93 | Washington State | 15–12 | 9–9 | T–5th | |
| 1993–94 | Washington State | 20–11 | 10–8 | 4th | NCAA Division I Round of 64 |
| Washington State: | 103–103 (.500) | 48–78 (.381) | |||
| Oklahoma Sooners (Big Eight Conference) (1994–1996) | |||||
| 1994–95 | Oklahoma | 23–9 | 9–5 | 3rd | NCAA Division I Round of 64 |
| 1995–96 | Oklahoma | 18–12 | 8–6 | 3rd | NCAA Division I Round of 64 |
| Oklahoma Sooners (Big 12 Conference) (1996–2006) | |||||
| 1996–97 | Oklahoma | 19–11 | 9–7 | 6th | NCAA Division I Round of 64 |
| 1997–98 | Oklahoma | 22–11 | 11–5 | T–2nd | NCAA Division I Round of 64 |
| 1998–99 | Oklahoma | 22–11 | 11–5 | T–2nd | NCAA Division I Sweet 16 |
| 1999–00 | Oklahoma | 27–7 | 12–4 | T–3rd | NCAA Division I Round of 32 |
| 2000–01 | Oklahoma | 26–7 | 12–4 | T–2nd | NCAA Division I Round of 64 |
| 2001–02 | Oklahoma | 31–5 | 13–3 | 2nd | NCAA Division I Final Four |
| 2002–03 | Oklahoma | 27–7 | 12–4 | 3rd | NCAA Division I Elite Eight |
| 2003–04 | Oklahoma | 20–11 | 8–8 | 7th | NIT Second Round |
| 2004–05 | Oklahoma | 25–8 | 12–4 | T–1st | NCAA Division I Round of 32 |
| 2005–06 | Oklahoma | 20–9 | 11–5 | 3rd | NCAA Division I Round of 64 |
| Oklahoma: | 280–108 (.722) | 128–60 (.681) | |||
| Indiana Hoosiers (Big Ten Conference) (2006–2008) | |||||
| 2006–07 | Indiana | 21–11 | 10–6 | 3rd | NCAA Division I Round of 32 |
| 2007–08 | Indiana | 22–4 | 11–2 | – | |
| Indiana: | 43–15 (.741) | 21–8 (.724) | |||
| Houston Cougars (American Athletic Conference) (2014–2023) | |||||
| 2014–15 | Houston | 13–19 | 4–14 | 10th | |
| 2015–16 | Houston | 22–10 | 12–6 | T–3rd | NIT First Round |
| 2016–17 | Houston | 21–11 | 12–6 | 3rd | NIT First Round |
| 2017–18 | Houston | 27–8 | 14–4 | T–2nd | NCAA Division I Round of 32 |
| 2018–19 | Houston | 33–4 | 16–2 | 1st | NCAA Division I Sweet 16 |
| 2019–20 | Houston | 23–8 | 13–5 | T–1st | No postseason held |
| 2020–21 | Houston | 28–4 | 14–3 | 2nd | NCAA Division I Final Four |
| 2021–22 | Houston | 32–6 | 15–3 | 1st | NCAA Division I Elite Eight |
| 2022–23 | Houston | 33–4 | 17–1 | 1st | NCAA Division I Sweet 16 |
| Houston Cougars (Big 12 Conference) (2023–present) | |||||
| 2023–24 | Houston | 32–4 | 15–3 | 1st | NCAA Division I |
FAQ's On Kelvin Sampson NCAA coaching Record
A. Kelvin Sampson was born in Pembroke, North Carolina.
A. Kelvin Sampson attended Pembroke State University and Michigan State University.
A. As of 2023-24, Kelvin Sampson has an overall head coaching career record of 763–349 (.686).
A. As of 2023-24, Kelvin Sampson's National Invitation Tournament (NIT) record is 2–4 throughout his career.
