Kelvin Sampson’s Houston Contract Comes With Intriguing Family-Related Clause

In June 2023, Houston gave Sampson a new contract that ran through the 2026-27 season. In it, there was an interesting wrinkle involving his son, Kellen, who is an assistant at Houston, per Alex Schiffer of Front Office Sports. 

As Kelvin Sampson got a new deal, Kellen Sampson saw a new section in his contract titled "Future Employment of Coach." 

“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, than the university shall pay Coach two million dollars," the contract reads. 

So, Kelvin Sampson retiring would mean Kellen Sampson is the new head coach at Houston, and he would make $2 million per year to start off. 

As for Kelvin Sampson's contract, it reas as follows, per Front Offie Sports: “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." 

Kellen Sampson played for his dad at Oklahoma and was hired in 2014 when Kelvin Sampson became the head coach. 

While it remains unclear whether or not Kelvin Sampson plans to retire, all signs point to his son taking over as coach whenever he decides to hang it up.