The Houston Cougars already know who will replace Kelvin Sampson when he retires

The Houston Cougars have defied many odds getting to the 2025 NCAA Tournament championship game, and if Kelvin Sampson's team manages to knock off fellow one seed, the Florida Gators, it could even be the last game that the head coach finds himself on a sideline.

Sampson, 70, has been coaching since 1979 and has found so much success recently with the Cougars by building Houston into a national powerhouse. However, with a potential national title looming it's very possible that Sampson could opt to retire with a win Monday night.

Houston's Kelvin Sampson has a clause in his contract that names a "head coach in waiting" for the team:

His son Kellen, who would succeed his dad on $2M-per-year contract.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) April 7, 2025

According to Front Office Sports, this is something that Houston has been preparing for and they even know who Sampson's successor would be in the event that he does retire.

Sampson reportedly has named his son, Kellen, as the team's next "head coach in waiting" and the younger Sampson would earn a $2 million contract annually.

A view of the opening tip between the Florida Gators and Houston Cougars in the first half in the national championship game

Apr 7, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; A view of the opening tip between the Florida Gators and Houston Cougars in the first half in the national championship game of the Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images / Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Perhaps it's too early to talk retirement, especially given the way Houston has played in recent seasons, but in the NIL era and constant turnover on rosters retirement could be something that's weighing on Sampson after a long and successful career both as a college and NBA coach.

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