Fansided

25 worst coaching hires in the history of college basketball

By Joey Loose

LEXINGTON, KY - JANUARY 21: Head coach Billy Gillispie of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts to the action during the SEC game against the Auburn Tigers at Rupp Arena on January 21, 2009 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - JANUARY 21: Head coach Billy Gillispie of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts to the action during the SEC game against the Auburn Tigers at Rupp Arena on January 21, 2009 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Worst college basketball coach hires
Kelvin Sampson was given a five-year show cause penalty from the NCAA following violations he committed as IU’s head coach. /

4. Kelvin Sampson – Indiana (2006-2008)

  • 43-15 record (almost 2 seasons)

For decades under Bob Knight, Indiana was one of the best programs in college basketball. His departure in 2000 greatly changed the program, though successor Mike Davis did lead the Hoosiers to the national title game in 2002. A few years later, inconsistent play doomed Davis’s tenure, with Indiana thrust into their first big head coaching search in decades. Indiana eventually settled on a pretty solid head coach, one who they hoped would elevate the program back into the public spotlight.

Kelvin Sampson was a coach on the rise in college basketball, having had success at each of his first three head coaching stints. After a solid start at Montana Tech, Sampson did good work in seven years at Washington State, leading Oklahoma to hire him in 1994. Sampson built consistent success with the Sooners, leading the Big 12 program to 11 NCAA Tournaments in 12 years, including a Final Four in 2002. Having lost to these Hoosiers in that Final Four run, Sampson was ready to take over the program himself.

Sampson went 43-15 as Indiana head coach, having been forced out with a few weeks left in his second season. Things looked great from a record standpoint, but away from basketball things were a mess. The recruitment of Eric Gordon caused all kinds of issues, with impermissible contact and other recruiting violations plaguing Sampson. These issues led to the team completely falling apart, with successor Tom Crean barely able to field a team for the next few seasons, with Sampson given a five-year show-cause for his violations.