Relationship with the Athletic Director
Sampson and his track record speak for themselves and he currently has his current team the Houston Cougars rolling. He has back to back NCAA tournament appearance and this season he was minutes away from securing a spot in the Sweet 16. Sampson has turned around every program he has ever been the head of. One man is taking notice of Sampson and his work with the Houston basketball program. Hunter Yurachek who is the current Athletic Director at Arkansas.
Yurachek and Sampson have a previous professional relationship. The current Athletic Director served in the same role at Houston. The former Houston Athletic Director was instrumental in hiring Sampson to be the Cougars head basketball coach. It is documented how close of a relationship the current coach and former Athletic Director had.
Sampson has not mentioned anything on his interest in the Arkansas job, but recently Yurachek made a surprise appearance at the Fertitta Center, Houston’s home building, to pop in a meet with the current Cougar coach. It is unknown what took place at the meeting outside of the media’s eye. Yurachek claims he was in town attending a friend’s wedding, but it was interesting timing as he was in the market for a new coach, and Houston was preparing their sweet 16 matchup with Kentucky.
Until Sampson makes a move on this job or any other news breaks it is not unreasonable to think that he may stay in Houston. The president of the University Tilman Fertitta has offered his current coach a big extension to remain the coach of the Cougars. The proposed extension is in the 6 years and 18 million total range. That amount of money would complicate any decision.