Kelvin Sampson (HC Houston Cougars)

[osugrad21]

ESPN

Updated: March 28, 2006, 1:33 PM ET
Sources say Sampson replaces Davis at Indiana


By Andy Katz
ESPN.com




Oklahoma's Kelvin Sampson is expected to leave the school to become the next head coach at Indiana, multiple sources told ESPN.com.

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Sampson already told OU athletic director Joe Castiglione of his plans and was scheduled to meet with the Sooner team Tuesday afternoon.

A news conference announcing his hiring at Indiana could take place as early as Wednesday afternoon in Bloomington.

Sampson replaces Mike Davis, who took over for Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight in 2000.

Negotiations with Sampson heated up in the past week as the Hoosiers zeroed in on him after making overtures through a search committee to Gonzaga's Mark Few and Memphis' John Calipari.

The hiring of Sampson means the Hoosiers will break away completely from the Bob Knight era, instead of looking at former Hoosiers Steve Alford of Iowa or Orlando Magic assistant Randy Wittman.

Ironically, Oklahoma and Sampson lost to Davis (and Indiana) in his only trip to the Final Four in 2002.

Sampson's family was being flown to Indiana, including his daughter, who works at the College of Charleston.

 

[BuckBackHome]

Sampson's family was being flown to Indiana, including his daughter, who works at the College of Charleston.

Ah, another "in-flight" confirmation. Are the backboards painted?

 

[ntd]

He seems like a good coach and a really good recruiter...I remember a few years back when he got the duo from Brookhaven to go to Oklahoma

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

I might be in the minority here, but I seem to remember a few "bad incidents" happening down in Oklahoma while he has been there....I am suprised by this hire.....he hasn't been setting the world on fire down there in Oklahoma.

 

[Thump]

he hasn't been setting the world on fire down there in Oklahoma.

Maybe this year but I'd say he's done pretty damn good at a school that's predominantly a football school.

I think it's a great hire by Indiana.

 

[BB73]

Maybe this year but I'd say he's done pretty damn good at a school that's predominantly a football school.

I think it's a great hire by Indiana.

I concur.

 

[stxbuck]

Considering that most years he has almost zero in-state talent to recruit, Sampson does a phenomenal job. Oklahoma reeled in a really good recruiting class this year, I wonder if many of them will ask for a release to go to Indiana. I wonder why the Hoosiers didn't go after Alford harder? Either way, excellent hire.

 

[osugrad21]

Sampson made something out of nothing...that should be commended. I would imagine that he felt as though he hit his ceiling at OU though...needed a bigger pond to fish.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

He seems like a good coach and a really good recruiter...I remember a few years back when he got the duo from Brookhaven to go to Oklahoma

Ah, but as I recall, part of that was taking (Brandon?) Foust (whom wasn't as hot of a commodity) in order to get Drew Lavender down there. A package-deal situation. And neither of them are on the team at this point.

 

[Thump]

he hasn't been setting the world on fire down there in Oklahoma.

The guy has a .721 winning percentage and avgs over 23 wins a season.

 

[jwinslow]

It looks as tho he had a great 2006 season, but was not in the top-25 recruiting classes in 04 & 05.

Oklahoma reeled in a really good recruiting class this year

here is the class synopsis

4. Oklahoma - The talent in Texas is crossing the banks of the Red River and finding a home in Norman, Okla. Leading the way is Damion James from Nacogdoches. The 6-foot-8, 5-star forward is one of the most difficult players to defend because of his size, strength, ability to drive to the rack, rebound and score in the post. San Antonio native Tony Crocker, a 6-foot-5 forward brings versatility to the squad while 6-foot-10 forward Jeremy Mayfield was a huge get just this week for the Sooners.
The Texas trio is joined by a pair of talented four-star prospects. Oklahoma native Keith Clark is staying close to home and his a good inside/out game. Virginia guard Scottie Reynolds brings a big time scoring reputation to the Big 12. His aggressive style of play has drawn comparisons to former OU great Hollis Price.

 

[methomps]

I might be in the minority here, but I seem to remember a few "bad incidents" happening down in Oklahoma while he has been there

You mean like the recruiting violations?

The Oklahoma basketball program is in the midst of a three-year NCAA investigation into illegal contact with prospective recruits. The NCAA issued a report detailing more than 550 illegal calls made by Sampson and his staff from 2000-04 to 17 recruits, and the NCAA has yet to issue a final decision. Most of the calls were made by Sampson and former assistants Ray Lopes and Jim Shaw. Lopes went on to be named the head coach at Fresno State in 2002, but resigned at the end of the 2004-05 season after Fresno State was found to have violated rules for making impermissible phone calls to recruits.

The Oklahoma program put itself on two years of probation, docking itself two scholarships for this season and one for the 2006-07 campaign in an effort to satisfy the NCAA and presumably avoid further sanctions. But the NCAA asked for more information, and the university will go before the NCAA infractions committee in April. While there have been no illegal activities discovered other than the ill-timed phon

 

[coastalbuck]

I'd have still went with Alford if he wanted it, maybe he didn't and that forced Indiana's hand. I know they didn't want to wait any longer than they had to. By the way, I saw his daughter on TV when I was watching a C or C game, she looks just like him, spittin image...

 

[BuckBackHome]

I wonder why the Hoosiers didn't go after Alford harder? Either way, excellent hire.

If the assumption in the article is correct, looks like they wanted to cut the ties to the General.

 

[Thump]

If the assumption in the article is correct, looks like they wanted to cut the ties to the General.

Can't say as I blame them.