Family Business: Kelvin Sampson Is Not Done Yet

But Sampson already was and is with his family. 

Every day. 

The Sampson dynamic at Houston has to be one of the most unusual in college sports, let alone men’s college basketball. His son Kellen is his top assistant and trusted, loyal advisor. His daughter Lauren is in charge of all things external as the chief of staff for the program. And his wife, Karen, is the backbone of the entire operation. 

There was a part of me that thought if Emanuel Sharp gets off a shot over Walter Clayton Jr., and the Cougars beat Florida for the title, Sampson would have retired. 

Now, I’m not so sure. 

Sampson’s energy level hasn’t wilted one bit. When I saw him at the NBA Draft last month in Brooklyn he scoffed at the idea that coaches can’t get time off after the season due to the portal and NIL. He and Karen spent three weeks at his beach house in North Carolina. One of the main reasons he can retreat and recharge is the confidence he has in Kellen and the rest of his staff — K.C. Beard, Mike Ekanem, Hollis Price and Anthony Goldwire. 

“We found consistency just in an inconsistent landscape,’’ said Kellen Sampson, who played for Kelvin at Oklahoma from 2004-2007. “We know who we are, and we’re pretty unwavering in our identity and culture and what the standard is that has to be upheld every day. It starts with coach (Kelvin). He leads us in a way that allows us to simply follow behind him from April 2014 until now. We know how our bread gets buttered and if we just play and work to that standard that he created then we’re going to like where we’re at when we get to the end (of each season).’’

Houston needed a complete overhaul when Sampson took over, and his confidence in his family as vital pieces in the rebuild was naturally questioned. He said the charges of nepotism couldn’t be ignored. 

“I kept quiet because I believed in Kellen and I believed in Lauren,’’ said Kelvin. “I knew how good Kellen was. I knew how good Lauren was, and I desperately needed both of them to get this thing turned around. I’ve turned around a lot of programs over the years, and I enjoyed that. It’s something that’s always been a calling for me. But this place was different than anywhere that I’ve been, and we had to do it in a way that we just had to get inside a box and stay in there. 

“We almost had to be independent of a lot of things here on campus. So we just went to work. How we play is how we play. But you know, Kellen’s always been curious. Lauren’s always been steadfast, and I think Kellen’s curiosity and Lauren’s stubbornness and her steadfastness in helping us divine what we wanted this program to be (was critical).’’

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Kelvin Sampson said he’ll sometimes look down the court and see Kellen coaching or is with Lauren during a charity or community event and realize how lucky he is to do this with his family. 

“I don’t have to worry about loyalty or guys buying in,’’ said Kelvin. 

Sampson said they are always climbing the mountain at Houston. The stinging loss to Florida after the thrilling comeback against Duke in San Antonio was easier to bounce back from with Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac Jr. joining the returnees Sharp and Milos Uzan last season. 

“We had the euphoria of having a chance to win it all, but as soon as the game was over, we got back and met with our kids and got them organized,’’ said Kelvin. “There’s a period at the end of that, not a comma. It’s a period. You start again. This past season the same thing. We had a completely different team, but once we got everybody organized after the last game, period. It’s a challenge every year to get back on that mountain to start climbing. But the fact that I get to do it with my son and my daughter is why this is the best job I’ve ever had.”

Kellen said maintaining a sense of humility has helped Houston continue its excellence, regardless of conference affiliation. The Cougars ascended to the top of the Big 12 as soon as they moved over to the league and they’re not going anywhere, it seems. 

Kellen was well aware of continuing to prove he belonged. He said it wasn’t hard at Oklahoma since he wasn’t a marquee piece. But on the staff he said his passion, determination and work ethic has earned him respect among his peers. 

“I’m not doing this simply because I was gifted an opportunity,’’ said Kellen. “I’m doing this because there is nothing else I want to do. People gravitate to authenticity.’’

So do players. I was so impressed during NBA Draft interviews with the way Kingston Flemings was speaking about playing for Sampson. He wanted to be coached. He was fine with being pushed and challenged. And that’s why Kelvin and Kellen have to vet their players. And they have, quite well. 

“We have a way of holding our kids to the standards we want to hold them to,’’ said Kelvin. “We’re pretty good at identifying the kids that can do that.’’

And Kellen said one key part of determining why a player would fit is their circle. If they have the support of a parent, coach, guardian or anyone close to the player, then they know it’s going to work. They can’t have a player’s inner circle at odds with their coaching style and demands. 

How this crew works together is still an unknown. But the return of Joseph Tugler and Mercy Miller, whom they believe will want to be the player who takes the big shot like Flemings and Sharp, plus Chase McCarty on the perimeter puts the Cougars in contention yet again. Having a top-20 recruiting and transfer class adds to the potential. 

“I have confidence this will eventually be a good defensive team,’’ said Kelvin Sampson. “It will be (transfer) Dedan Thomas’ team (on the perimeter).’’

Thomas can’t be compared to a lottery pick like Flemings yet. Nor can he or anyone else expect to be a typical Houston player — yet. 

“We don’t lower our standards because somebody’s not quite good enough (yet),’’ said Kelvin. “Our is to get him good enough.’’

That locked-in mentality is what defines Kelvin and Kellen and the rest of the family on this staff. There’s no reason for Kelvin to stop. He’s home in Houston with his family — coaching the Cougars to a regular spot with the elites in the sport.