Kelvin Sampson paying dividends.

Kelvin Sampson paying dividends By Justin Mangan   Before Kelvin Sampson, the Indiana Hoosiers’ new head basketball coach, could call his first play

Kelvin Sampson paying dividends 

By Justin Mangan 

  

Before Kelvin Sampson, the Indiana Hoosiers’ new head basketball coach, could call his first play from the sidelines he is being struck by violating NCAA infractions. The former Oklahoma coach, along with his Sooners staff had broke NCAA rules by making 577 extra phone calls to future basketball targets. And at times when coaches were not allowed to be contacting any recruits. The NCAA infractions committee is requiring Indiana to use self-imposed restrictions. The Sooners will make the restrictions. 

  

The result however, doesn’t affect Indiana in terms of scholarship losses. But it does affect Sampson, who will not be paid performance bonuses for this upcoming season. There is good news for Sampson however, as the Hoosiers will not change its decision on hiring him as their new coach. Indiana also said that they don’t plan on appealing the ruling. 

  

There was a chance that Sampsons stay with the Hoosiers could have been cut short. Under his sever-year deal he signed with the team, a provision was inserted. One that allowed the University to take action and terminate his contract if the NCAA imposed more significant penalties than the University of Oklahoma would have imposed on them. The results for Oklahoma put them at a significant recruiting advantage with the extra phone calls. More over, six of the 17 recruits involved in the matter announced they would attend the school.

  

Indiana athletic director Rick Greenspan concluded that the University didn’t have any intention to make Sampson tenure end shorter than expected. “We knew that there could be further sanctions and we accept them,” Greenspan said. Even with the infractions that Sampson has brought to Indiana, they are still excited about the future with the new coach, even after replacing legendary Mike Davis.

  

For Oklahoma, the self-imposed sanctions will have an affect on the basketball teams future. They will be cutting two scholarships from last season and one for the upcoming. I should not however, that these will not be transferred to Indiana. Recruiting for Sampson will be more difficult than expected as he will be able to contact recruits with text messages, letters and e-mails. Said Sampson, “I have learned an invaluable lesson, and I hope that this reinforces to other coaches the importance of every aspect of NCAA compliance.”

  

Prior to this affair the Hoosiers have gone 46 years and not had a NCAA violation. But for Bloomington, and IU basketball, they have all the confidence in their new ball coach. They remain ready and look forward to creating a new era of IU basketball under Coach Sampson. Although the sanctions will create an immediate impact on the team, Greenspan and fans are still excited about the upcoming IU basketball season.