.png&width=48&height=48&type=webp)
Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Chief of Staff
- Email:
- lsampson@central.uh.edu
| ABOUT LAUREN SAMPSON | |
| Hometown | Norman, Okla. |
| College | Oklahoma '04 |
| PROFESSIONAL CAREER | |
| Year | Team, Position |
| 2025 – | Houston, Chief of Staff |
| 2021-25 | Houston, Director of Operations |
| 2016-21 | Houston, Director of External Operations |
| 2015-15 | Houston, Director for Revenue Development |
| 2006-07 | Indiana, IU Sports Properties Account Executive |
| 2005-06 | College of Charleston, Director of Sports Marketing |
| CHAMPIONSHIPS | |
| 2023-24 | Big 12 Conference Champions |
| 2022-23 | American Athletic Conference Tournament Champions |
| 2024-25 | • Big 12 Champions • Big 12 Tournament Champions |
| 2021-22 | • American Athletic Champions • American Athletic Tournament Champions |
| 2020-21 | • NCAA Final Four • American Athletic Tournament Champions |
| 2019-20 | American Athletic Champions |
| 2018-19 | American Athletic Champions |
| NBA DRAFT SELECTIONS | |
| Year | Experience |
| 2024 | Jamal Shead (Toronto Raptors) | Second Round | #45 pick |
| 2023 | Jarace Walker (Indiana Pacers) | First Round | #8 pick Marcus Sasser (Detroit Pistons) | First Round | #25 pick |
| 2021 | Quentin Grimes (New York Knicks) | First Round | #25 pick |
| 2017 | Damyean Dotson (New York Knicks) | Second Round | #44 pick |
Follow Lauren Sampson on Twitter
Lauren Sampson joined the University of Houston Men’s Basketball program in the summer of 2016 as director for external operations and became current position as director of operations in 2021.
She was elevated to her current position as chief of staff in May 2025.
In that role, she oversees the publicity of the Houston Men’s Basketball program and supervises numerous team functions every year.
During her time in Houston, the Cougars have recorded 264 victories in nine straight 20-win seasons with nine Big 12/American Athletic Conference championships and seven consecutive NCAA Tournament berths with Final Four appearance in 2025 and 2021, an Elite Eight appearance in 2022 and Sweet 16 berths in 2019, 2023, and 2024.
Prior to her current position, Sampson worked in the Houston Athletics Marketing Office as program director for revenue development during the 2015-16 season.
Sampson joined the Cougars after working for the previous four years as a professional sales representative with Medimetriks Pharmaceuticals.
In her most recent role in collegiate athletics, Sampson was an account executive with Indiana University Sports Properties during the 2006-07 season. There, she was responsible for sponsorship fulfillment and planned and executed all hospitality events for Football and Men’s Basketball games.
She served as director of sports marketing at College of Charleston from 2005 to 2006. Sampson, who is a native of Norman, Okla., managed and produced all marketing material and activities for 21 sport programs and implemented major fundraising events to general additional business exposure.
After completing her college education, Sampson entered the professional ranks in special events and membership development with the All-Sports Association in Oklahoma City, where she developed sponsorship packages and planned and executed several events, including the All-College Banquet, All-Sports Elite Members Party and All-Sports Golf Invitational.
Sampson graduated from Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in communications with minors in history and Native American studies in 2004.
Her father, Kelvin Sampson, is the men’s basketball head coach at UH, and her younger brother, Kellen, is an assistant coach on the staff.
