It’s no surprise that OU men’s head basketball coach Kelvin Sampson attributes his success to his team.
“There is something I always say to our kids,” he said. “There is a reason the name on the back of the jersey is smaller than the name on the front of the jersey. While there are individuals on the team, Oklahoma is who we play for.”
By team, Sampson means everyone from the point guard to the president.
“This program is amazing,” Sampson said. “From President Boren to Joe Castiglione to Hollis Price, we are all competing for Oklahoma.”
Sampson has enjoyed a wide array of recognition this past season.
Aside from carrying his team to the Final Four, he earned the CBS Chevrolet Coach of the Year award, the National Association of Basketball Coaches Coach of the Year award was voted by Division I coaches as the D-I Coach of the Year and more recently the Red Earth Ambassador of the Year Award.
The Red Earth Ambassador of the Year Award is given yearly to an individual who has made significant contributions in presenting a positive image of Native Americans.
The award was established in 1991 to promote pride in American Indian heritage and is represented by a large bronze sculpture of a proud young warrior holding a coup stick. The sculpture, entitled “To Count Coup,” is by Cherokee artist Troy Anderson. Counting coup is considered the ultimate in bravery. The warrior touches the enemy with his coup stick and escape without injury to either party.
Sampson, of Lumbee Indian heritage, he exemplifies the role model for young Native Americans to believe they, too, can excel in their chosen field.
Sampson will receive the award at the Red Earth festival in on June 7 in Oklahoma City.
The Festival is the largest American Indian cultural festival.
“I have of course heard of this award,” Sampson said. “When they called me I figured there had to be someone more deserving.”
He said he coaches basketball and he couldn’t help of think of those who teach the more important skills.
“When I go home, I always go visit my 1st grade teacher,” Sampson said. “She taught me how to read and write, something that is really important. “I’m really honored to receive this award.”
Sampson also said that he has a hard time receiving individual awards.
“Individual Awards are difficult. It’s like choosing an MVP,’ he said.
“I can’t tell you who the most valuable player is to my team just like I can’t accept individual awards without mentioning the amazing staff I work with and the amazing kids who play on this team.”
When it comes to awards, Sampson has several to choose from. Aside from his array of coach of the year trophies sitting nicely in his brand new office at Lloyd Noble Center, he has walls filled with plaques.
He has been inducted to the Pembroke State Hall of Fame, coached the US Junior national team and his newest adventure begins June 5th in Chicago.
“This year I get to help coach the US World Championship team compiled of the top NBA players,” he said. “This is the first year they are having this in the United States and I am really glad to be a part of it.”
With so many accomplishments, Sampson continues to attribute his achievements to the people he works with.
“I sit around what I call the ‘campfire’ meeting with Joe (Castiglione) and the rest of the OU coaching staff,” he said. “When I look around the room, I see Bob Stoops, national championship, Patti Gasso, national championship, Mark Williams, national championship, Jack Spates, Sherri Coale and I think that I not only work with an amazingly talented group of people, I work with people that I would want to work with my own children. These are good people.”
While the summer rolls on and Sampson continues to stay busy and determined, he says that the goal now is to stay on top. “People always ask me about going to Atlanta and all the success this team has had,” he said. “they expect that it adds pressure. “The truth is, I am so glad to have that pressure. it motivates us to get this far and stay here.”
