Houston Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson has become one of the most influential coaches in the history of college basketball. In 2025, his team made it to the final of the National Championship for the second time during his tenure.
In 2021, the Cougars made it to the National Championship for the first time since 1983, falling at the final hurdle. Four years later, the Cougars have backed Sampson to finish the job with a lucrative new deal that keeps him in “H-Town” through the 2028-29 season.
Kelvin Sampson’s 2025 Salary and Contract
The Houston Cougars announced Wednesday, May 21, that Head Coach Sampson had signed a lucrative new four-year contract extension that would keep him with the program until the 2028-29 season.
According to College Sports Insider Jon Rothstein, this lucrative new deal will also make him one of the highest-paid head coaches in college hoops, with the official terms of the agreement yet to be announced.
𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐃@CoachSampsonUH has agreed to a new deal & will be a @UHouston Cougar through 2028-29
First things first…
Who’s ready for 2025-26?#ForTheCity #GoCoogs pic.twitter.com/cb9skHZroj— Houston Men’s Hoops 🏀 🐾 (@UHCougarMBK) May 21, 2025
Sampson’s contract extension comes after arguably one of his best years with Houston, yet, making it to the National Championship after a shocking comeback against Duke in the Final Four, suffering a narrow 65-63 defeat to Florida in the final.
“It is hard to truly put into words what Kelvin Sampson has meant to our men’s basketball program, our Athletics Department, our University, and our greater Houston community.” Houston’s Vice President for Athletics, Eddie Nuñez, explained.
He continued, “His success as a coach on the court is even more impressive when considering the tremendous impact he has had on the many young men to come through our program.
“Extending Coach Sampson’s contract and rewarding him for what he means to the University of Houston was important to me, President Khator, and our Board of Regents, and we are thrilled that Coach will remain a part of our University for years to come.”
Kelvin Sampson’s Net Worth
According to a report from Marca, Sampson’s net worth reportedly reached $20 million by February 2025.
However, this report does not factor in his most recent lucrative new contract, instead using the terms of his old contract, which he signed in 2023, to calculate his net worth.
“In June 2023, Sampson signed a lucrative contract extension with the University of Houston, boosting his annual salary to approximately $4.7 million.” The lifestyle magazine explained, with the Cougars’ Head Coach’s most recent deal netting him somewhere between 6-8$ million.
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Sampson’s financial success reflects his coaching abilities and the enormous impact he has had on the programs he led.
His ability to constantly enhance team performance has earned him praise and significant financial benefits, demonstrating his importance in the fiercely competitive world of college basketball coaching.
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