Kelvin Sampson turned 70 last month, yet his drive remains unmatched.
A Coaching Journey Spanning Four Decades
The veteran coach opened the 2025-26 season with a milestone victory, the 800th of his storied career, as Houston rolled past Lehigh 75-57. It’s another reminder of just how remarkable his basketball journey has been, one that began over 40 years ago at Montana Tech.
Sampson’s path from small-college beginnings to national powerhouse status is one of the most complete resumes in college basketball. His first season as a head coach in 1981 ended in an 0-15 record, but by the time he left Montana Tech, the team had won back-to-back Frontier Conference titles.
From there, Sampson spent seven seasons at Washington State, turning a struggling program into an NCAA Tournament team in 1994. That success led him to Oklahoma, where he built a consistent Big 12 contender and reached the Final Four in 2002.
Success and Setbacks Along the Way
Sampson’s 12-year run with the Sooners produced 280 wins, 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, and national recognition for his relentless coaching style. After a brief and controversial stint at Indiana, he transitioned to the NBA, serving on the staffs of the Milwaukee Bucks and Houston Rockets.
When Houston hired him in 2014, the Cougars were a program in need of a reset. Sampson gave them exactly that, and more.
Building a Powerhouse in Houston
In his 12 seasons with the Cougars, Sampson has completely transformed the program into a national juggernaut. Since 2017-18, Houston has won at least 23 games every year and has topped 32 victories in four straight seasons. The Cougars have reached six consecutive Sweet 16s, two Final Fours, and played in last year’s national championship game against Florida.
Under Sampson, Houston has also captured nine conference tournament titles, nine regular-season crowns, and produced multiple NBA players. His overall record now includes a 31-20 mark in the NCAA Tournament and a staggering list of accolades, including multiple national Coach of the Year honors and eight conference coaching awards.
The Road Ahead for 2025-26
This season, Houston begins ranked No. 2 in the country and looks every bit the part of a title contender. Emmanuel Sharp led the way in the opener with 24 points, while Milos Uzan added 12 points and five assists.
The Cougars face a demanding non-conference slate that includes Auburn, Syracuse, Tennessee, Florida State, and Arkansas before Big 12 play begins on January 3 at Cincinnati. Home games against Towson and Oakland are next up in November.
A Legacy Still Growing
From Montana Tech to Houston, Kelvin Sampson’s coaching story has been one of constant evolution and resilience. Now sitting at 800 career wins, he’s not showing any signs of slowing down. The Cougars are once again built to contend, and their veteran leader seems determined to add another deep March run to an already legendary career.