It isn't quite there yet but it is getting really close. Right now Texas and Texas Tech are getting the best in state prospects that stay in Texas. Right now UH is getting some of the second tier players and top JUCO guys. I can tell you that right now Sampson is very involved in getting some of the top kids in the transfer portal. There is a graduate guard that is down to two teams (one is UH) and he would be an instant starter and arguably be their best player. Sampson is also going very hard at a kid coming off an injury that is pretty serious, but he was a top 20 prospect coming out of high school and has length and athleticism. He isn't a guarantee but he wants to leave the midwest if he can kind a good fit. Either of those players would be a huge addition.
Keeping sampson is the 2nd step. The first step was plucking a P5 football coach and paying him a p5 salary. After that, I don’t think we can be called stepping stone anymore.
Utomi is supposedly looking at UNC. Great 3 and D type with nice size. Tyreek Smith is another potential guy, let out of his Aggie commit.
UH, Kelvin Sampson reach agreement on contract extension By Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle Updated 10:51 am CDT, Thursday, April 4, 2019 A 33-4 UH team that set a school record for victories, won an AAC regular-season championship, and reached the Sweet 16 gave Kelvin Sampson a lot to be happy about in Houston. >>>See the salaries for the highest-paid coaches in 2019 ... The University of Houston and Kelvin Sampson have reached agreement on a six-year contract extension, the two sides announced Thursday, that will likely keep the 63-year-old men’s basketball coach at the school for the remainder of his career. Terms of the deal were not immediately available. School officials said last week that Sampson was offered a six-year, $18 million offer through the 2024-25 season. The deal is pending approval by the University of Houston System Board of Regents. JENNY DIAL CREECH: UH becoming a destination school for coaches "I am excited to be at the University of Houston. We built this program to a point where we can compete for championships now, and I am glad our administration is on board," Sampson said in a statement. "(Chancellor) Renu (Khator), (UH System Board of Regents Chairman) Tilman (Fertitta) and (Vice President for Athletics) Chris Pezman) have done a great job of supporting all our programs. They have given us a chance to compete for championships. That's all a coach wants. I am proud of our team this year. The people that matter most are the players. Everything we do is for them. We have great young men who represent this university the right way. I am excited to continue to be the coach and recruit kids that our fan base can be proud of. We are excited about the future." With an average annual salary of $3 million, that would have ranked 21st nationally this season, according to USA Today's database of coaching salaries. Sampson had two years remaining on his deal that paid $1.6 million annually and included deferred compensation. Sampson's name had been mentioned as a possible candidate for the Arkansas job, and comes just four days after the Cougars lost to Kentucky 62-58 in the Sweet 16.
So happy for the Coogs. Thanks Tilman, I'll hit Saltgrass regularly. I wonder if he put in a bonus in for a final four appearance, that's a huge win-win.
What does coach-in-waiting even mean? If he doesn't become the next head coach does he get some kind of pay off?
Thinking it helps with recruiting, knowing that one of those 2 guys will be there for your full term at the school. Probably helps him salary-wise while he's an assistant.
Really glad they got this taken care of so quickly. Even before the Final 4 games. Still not sure about football, but UH is DEFINITELY a "destination school" when it comes to basketball. Really no reason for Sampson to go anywhere else. Glad he didn't draw this out any longer than a week.
