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5 College coaching candidates for the Phoenix Suns

By Khaleel Abdullah

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 08: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers celebrates with his team after the 85-77 win over the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 08: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers celebrates with his team after the 85-77 win over the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 02: Head coach Kelvin Sampson of the Houston Cougars rips his tie off during the second half against the UCF Knights at Fertitta Center on March 02, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 02: Head coach Kelvin Sampson of the Houston Cougars rips his tie off during the second half against the UCF Knights at Fertitta Center on March 02, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

#5 – Kelvin Sampson of Houston

He’s been the head coach at Houston for the last five seasons and has improved the team from a 13-19 record his first season to a 33-4 record this past season. Houston made it to the NCAA tournament each of the last two seasons, getting to the Round of 32 a year ago and to the Sweet 16 this past season.

Kelvin has led the Cougars to an average of 23 wins per season and a .690 winning percentage since he joined the team. Count out that first season and Houston is averaging 26 wins per season over his last four seasons.

Sampson coached the 2004 Under-21 USA national team to a 5-0 record and a gold medal in the Under-21 Tournament of the Americas.

In a way, he has some Phoenix ties. In the summer of 2012, he was the assistant coach of the Canadian national men’s basketball team, where Steve Nash was the general manager and Jay Triano the head coach. Back in 2008, he was an assistant coach on the Milwaukee Bucks under Scott Skiles as well.

He was also an assistant under Kevin McHale and Gregg Popovich. He’s a smart man that has had some excellent teachers. He has assistant coach experience in the NBA as well as head coaching experience in college. He deserves a shot as a head coach in the association.

Why would he come coach the Phoenix Suns? Perhaps the same reason that drove him to be the head coach at Houston according to the Washington Post.

"“I wanted to invest in a program where I could fix something,” Sampson said."

The Suns could make much worse decisions than giving him an interview and a chance at the job.

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