Kelvin Sampson has built the Houston Cougars into one of the top programs in college basketball in recent years. Entering the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest region, Houston cruised past SIU Edwardsville 78-40 in the first round and edged Gonzaga 81-76 in the second round of March Madness.
As the Cougars continue their pursuit of a national championship, Houston’s official social media account shared some exciting news about Sampson. The veteran coach has been named a finalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year award, joining Rick Pitino, Jon Scheyer, and Bruce Pearl.
“One of the greatest ever,” the Auburn Tigers posted in recognition of Pearl’s nomination.
Kelvin Sampson has been at the helm of the Houston Cougars since 2014, following a stint as an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets from 2011 to 2014. Under his leadership, the Cougars have reached a Final Four in 2021 and secured four conference tournament titles, including the 2025 championship.
This season, Houston has been fueled by the strong play of L.J. Cryer, who joined the program two years ago after spending three seasons with Baylor. Cryer has been a key contributor, helping the Cougars rise to the top of the Big 12. During the 2024-25 campaign, he has averaged 15.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game.
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