University of Houston hires Sampson as head coach to replace Dickey

HOUSTON – Kelvin Sampson, who committed numerous NCAA violations in past coaching jobs, is Houston's new basketball coach.

Sampson, an assistant with the Houston Rockets since 2011, replaces James Dickey, who stepped down last month citing family matters.

Sampson coached Oklahoma from 1994-2006 and Indiana from 2006-08. He made 11 NCAA tournaments during his tenure at Oklahoma, reaching the round of 16 in 1999, the Final Four in 2002 and the round of eight in 2003.

He received a five-year show cause order from the NCAA in 2008 after violations regarding impermissible calls to recruits at both Oklahoma and Indiana, which effectively barred him from coaching in college. That order expired in 2013.

Houston athletic director Mack Rhoades says: "He was candid and completely transparent about his mistakes in the past. Coach Sampson is committed to leading a first-class program in all areas."