Sampson to become new Indiana coach

[Reds Fanatic]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2387372

Oklahoma's Kelvin Sampson is expected to leave the school to become the next head coach at Indiana, multiple sources told ESPN.com.

Sampson already told OU athletic director Joe Castiglione of his plans and was scheduled to meet with the Sooner team Tuesday afternoon.

A news conference announcing his hiring at Indiana could take place as early as Wednesday afternoon in Bloomington.

Sampson replaces Mike Davis, who took over for Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight in 2000.

[MWM]

Wow! I'm not sure why Sampson would want to leave Oklahoma for IU, maybe it's because OU will always be a football first school. But this seems like a GREAT hire for IU. They get a great coach and silence a lot of the critics screaming racism and Mike Davis (although I think there's a lot of legitimacy to many of thse claims).

[Heath]

He's nuts - lateral move IMO.

[WVRed]

Wow! I'm not sure why Sampson would want to leave Oklahoma for IU, maybe it's because OU will always be a football first school. But this seems like a GREAT hire for IU. They get a great coach and silence a lot of the critics screaming racism and Mike Davis (although I think there's a lot of legitimacy to many of thse claims).

Must be money.

This was a shock. Indiana has had a different top candidate every day.(Alford, Beilein, etc)

[Javy Pornstache]

No way is Indiana a lateral move from Oklahoma. No matter who's had the better record as a program over the last few years, Indiana is an elite basketball program overall, in that top tier, that, in my opinion, only includes Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas and UCLA. Maybe Duke, though their success hasn't been quite as sustained over decades and decades as the other five.

[Chip R]

Will the last coach left in the Big 12 please turn out the lights.

[max venable]

WOW! I'm totally surprised that Sampson would leave OU to go to IU. But at the same time, I'm relieved that it's not Matta!

[Chip R]

WOW! I'm totally surprised that Sampson would leave OU to go to IU. But at the same time, I'm relieved that it's not Matta!

I'm not. OU hoops is always going to play second fiddle to OU football. IU hoops will never play second fiddle to IU football.

[cumberlandreds]

Very surprising move. I think Sampson is a good coach but it seems most of his teams are early outs in the NCAA tournament. IU fans will see tough defense with a lot of half court sets on offense. May not be pretty basketball but will fit the Big Ten style of play. I think this is a step up for Sampson. OU is all about football and nothing but football. IU is total basketball like UK. He may flourish more in that type of environment.

[Reds4Life]

Wasn't OU under NCAA investigation several times under his watch?

Talk about out of left field, don't see how this hire makes much sense for IU.

[rdiersin]

IU fans will see tough defense with a lot of half court sets on offense. May not be pretty basketball but will fit the Big Ten style of play.

That's what I think too, and that's where IU did a good job. They haven't had good defensive teams for a good while.

[max venable]

Talk about out of left field, don't see how this hire makes much sense for IU.

It WAS out of left field. Actually, I think it's a good hire for IU. I just never heard Sampson's name mentioned in the same breath as the IU job at all.

[traderumor]

It WAS out of left field. Actually, I think it's a good hire for IU. I just never heard Sampson's name mentioned in the same breath as the IU job at all.

I'm sure there's a blog somewhere that someone made a bold prediction that Sampson would be the next IU coach

[jmbraun773]

I like this hire it brings back a concept of in your face defensive basketball. He has proven that he can win at a major school, the only thing that worries me is the NCAA investigation currently going on.

I am also hoping that some of those recruits Coach Sampson had coming in to OU decide to jump ship and head to IU. Also Darrell Arthur, a great looking prospect, will hopefully decide to come here now.

All in all I am going to support my new coach, I think some good times are ahead.

GO HOOSIERS!!!



On a side note:

get a great coach and silence a lot of the critics screaming racism and Mike Davis (although I think there's a lot of legitimacy to many of thse claims).

I am so tired of hearing about racism with Mike Davis, he played that card every chance he could. If any coach (Coach K, Roy Williams, etc...) was in the same position at the same time as MD then the same scenario would be happening. He was given a huge contract after the Final Four but then he didn't produce any good results. It was not because he was black.

[Reds4Life]

After some quick research it looks like OU is under NCAA investigation right now for recruiting violations. The sanctions against them are looming, looks like Kelvin is bailing on a mess that he created.