Houston Rockets: Kelvin Sampson is a leading candidate for University of Houston head coaching position

Dec 13, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Rockets assistant coach Kelvin Sampson calls out to the players during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The Houston Rockets defeated the Golden State Warriors 116-112. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Following James Dickey’s sudden resignation from his head coaching position at the University of Houston, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports has reported that Houston Rockets assistant Kelvin Sampson has emerged as a leading candidate to replace Dickey.

Houston Rockets assistant coach Kelvin Sampson has emerged as a leading candidate to become the head coach at the University of Houston, multiple sources told Yahoo Sports.

Sampson is expected to meet with school representatives soon to discuss the job. Sources told Yahoo Sports that Houston is determined to hire a proven winner at the major level of college basketball.

Sampson’s previous tenure as head coach in the NCAA ranks saw the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. He took Oklahoma to the 2002 Final Four, and after a couple of successful seasons at Indiana, was found to violate rules for impermissible calls to recruits for both programs.

In 2008, the NCAA imposed a 5-year show-cause order on Sampson that has removed him from the college game since.

Sampson has been an assistant for the Rockets since head coach Kevin McHale took over in 2011, and has filled in as acting head coach the last 2 years when McHale has taken a leave of absence.