Florida Basketball: 8 candidates to replace Mike White as head coach

By Joey Loose | Mar 14, 2022

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 22: head coach Mike White of the Florida Gators reacts to a call during the second half of a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on February 22, 2022 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /

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Kelvin Sampson Houston Cougars (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) /

Kelvin Sampson

If the Gators don’t want to just settle for the rising coach, why not take a closer look at one of the established coaches in the game? Sampson certainly qualifies as someone who has had quite the career, so why not finish that career with some success with the Gators?

His head coaching career began more than four decades ago at Montana Tech, and he’s had successful D1 stints at Washington State and Oklahoma, leading the Sooners to a Final Four. After disaster at Indiana, he spent six seasons at the NBA before resurrecting the Houston program, leading those Cougars to the Final Four last season.

Sampson didn’t take the Arkansas job three years ago, and it’s fair to wonder if he’d leave Houston at this point, especially with the Cougars set to join the Big 12. However, Florida can offer money and resources that Houston doesn’t have, and the Gators have to love that he’s led multiple programs to the Final Four. Those violations at Indiana are reason for concern as well as Sampson’s age, as he’s already 66 and certainly wouldn’t be a long-term hire.

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