Sampson resigns, reaches settlement with University

The speculation is finally over: Kelvin Sampson is finished coaching the IU men’s basketball team.\nSampson resigned his position as head coach and will be replaced by former assistant coach and Hoosier player Dan Dakich on an interim basis, IU Director of Athletics Rick Greenspan said at a Friday night press conference.\n“I have made the very difficult decision to leave my position as head coach of the men’s basketball team at Indiana University,” Sampson said in a statement released by the University. “While I’m saddened that I will not have the opportunity to continue to coach these student athletes, I feel that it is in the best interest of the program for me to step aside at this time.”\nAs part of the settlement, Sampson will be paid $750,000, agreeing not to file a wrongful termination lawsuit against the University in the future. $550,000 of the settlement will be paid by an anonymous donor.\n “… it was a decision that was reached quite honestly in the best interest of both parties,” Greenspan said. “What I mean is that, there was not a great appetite I don’t think on either parties part to be involved in potentially contentious litigation that I think this helps the team, the players, the University heal quicker.”\nOn Feb. 13, IU released a “Notice of Allegations” received from the NCAA regarding self-reported violations committed by Sampson and members of his coaching staff. In the notice, the NCAA upgraded the infractions reported by the University from secondary to major. IU had 90 days to formally respond to the NCAA report.\nIU President Michael McRobbie appointed Greenspan to investigate the NCAA report and give a recommendation on Sampson’s coaching future by Friday. Since an agreement was reached, Greenspan did not have to give that recommendation to McRobbie.\nMcRobbie accepted Sampson’s resignation Friday before the press conference.\n“I have accepted the resignation of Kelvin Sampson in order to put this matter behind us and allow our basketball season to move forward without these distractions,” McRobbie said in a statement.\nThe resignation came after two days of speculation and reports from various media outlets that Sampson would be fired. While those reports proved to be false, Greenspan did confirm reports that members of the team missed practice today to boycott the decision. According to the Bloomington Herald-Times, D.J. White, Armon Bassett, Jamarcus Ellis, DeAndre Thomas, Jordan Crawford and Brandon McGee did not attend an afternoon practice.\n“I think it’s accurate that some of the players weren’t there at practice,” Greenspan said. He added that “most or all” of the IU players were in attendance Friday night for a walkthrough and that the Hoosiers will leave tomorrow at 10 a.m. to fly to Northwestern for Saturday night’s game.\nGreenspan would not discuss possible punishments if those players were to boycott Saturday’s game against Northwestern.\n“That’s so hypothetical I wouldn’t even go there,” Greenspan said.\nIU has signed four recruits for the 2008-2009 season – two of which have release provisions in their binding letter of intent if a coaching change or postseason ban would occur.\n“The next challenge for this coaching staff will be to try and reach out to those young men and provide some sense of comfort and normalcy in an environment is very different than when they committed,” Greenspan said.\n- Sports Editor Matt Dollinger contributed to this report.