UNCP Alumnus Kelvin Sampson To Be Inducted To NC Sports Hall Of Fame

The North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame is proud to announce its 2026 induction class. The new members, listed alphabetically, are Chip Beck, Heather Bergsma, Louis Breeden, Leonard Hamilton, Tyler Hansbrough, Richard Huntley, John Isner, Norvell Lee, Eddie Pope, Kelvin Sampson and Jerry Winterton.

The group of 11 will be enshrined during the 62nd annual induction celebration on the evening of Friday, May 1, at the Sheraton at Four Seasons Convention Center in Greensboro, starting at 5 p.m. Their induction will bring the total number of Hall of Fame members to 433. Ticket information will be released at a later date.

“This class truly represents the best of the best in North Carolina sports,” said Rick Webb, president of the Hall of Fame. “It reflects the incredible diversity of excellence across high school, collegiate, professional, and Olympic competition. Through these 11 inductees, we continue our mission to honor the men and women whose achievements and leadership have shaped — and continue to shape — the rich sports legacy of our state.”

The first Native American elected to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the Pembroke native currently is the head coach at the University of Houston. A year ago, he led the Cougars to a school-record 35 wins, a No. 2 final national ranking and the Big 12 regular-season (19-1) and tournament championships. He has a winning percentage of more than 78 percent in 11 seasons at Houston, taking the Cougars to five Sweet 16s and two Final Fours. Sampson had 10 straight 20-win seasons at Oklahoma and reached the 2002 Final Four. He is one of 15 coaches to lead four or more schools into the NCAA Tournament and one of just 16 to lead two different colleges to the Final Four.

Sampson graduated from Pembroke State in 1978 with degrees in health and physical education and political science. Sampson was inducted into the UNC Pembroke Athletics Hall of Fame in February 1998. In December, Sampson was announced as one of the first-time nominees for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.