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The Houston basketball team will play in its first national title game in more than four decades on Monday when it faces Florida. The outcome of that contest could have major implications on the future of the program.
A win might lead to a retirement decision for its current head coach. Kelvin Sampson could opt to go out on top after 30+ years as a head coach at the NCAA D1 level.
Sampson will look to win the 725th game of his career on the sport’s highest stage. He’s led Houston to a 35-4 overall record this season, the most successful of his 10-year stint with the school.
The team embodies his gritty attitude, which was on full display in their most recent win over Duke. The Cougars were down by nine points with just over two minutes left in that Final Four matchup. They won, 70-67.
Should Kelvin Sampson ultimately win his first ever national championship, he’d secure the ever-elusive final achievement in his storied career.
If he chose to retire after the fact, a succession plan is already in place regarding Houston’s next hire. It’s written in Sampson’s contract!
Kelvin Sampson can make his son the next Houston basketball coach.
According to Front Office Sports, Sampson had a “Future Employment of Coach” clause written into his most recent contract. That came back in 2023, suggesting the coach had retirement on the brain when negotiating that new deal.
“If after June 1, 2025, Coach has not left the employment of the university for reasons within Coach’s control, and for any reason is not the head coach of team within 14 calendar days after Kelvin Sampson ceases to be head coach of the team, the university shall pay Coach two million dollars,” Kellen’s contract reads.
Should Kelvin retire and be replaced by Kellen, the contract says, the younger Sampson would get a four-year deal with the school that would pay him $2 million through the first three years of the deal…
“As long as Coach is employed as coach for the Team and Kellen Sampson is employed as a coach of the team, UH acknowledges and agrees that Kellen Sampson shall have and maintain the functional title of “head coach in waiting” for the team,”
-FOS
Kellen Sampson has been on the Houston basketball staff since 2014. He worked as an assistant at Appalachian State, Stephen F. Austin, and Oklahoma prior. The Cougars kept him put with a six-year deal in 2019 after his name was linked to other openings. He was named “Head Coach-In-Waiting” four years later.
His father, Kelvin Sampson, has been asked about his retirement plans in the past. He says he’ll make the call when he feels ready. “I’ve had a lifetime contract… I’ll decide when it’s time to go,” he said earlier this month. “I’ll make that decision independent of anybody but my wife.”
Houston will play for a national title on Monday. They might be searching for a new head coach depending on the outcome of that contest. Based on Kelvin Sampson’s contract, they shouldn’t have to look far for his replacement.