Since taking over the University of Houston’s men’s basketball program in 2014, Coach Kelvin Sampson has turned the Cougars into one of the best teams in the NCAA —racking up nine conference championships, five 30-win seasons, and of course two trips to the Final Four. But before finding success as a coach in the NBA and NCAA – Sampson grew up in rural North Carolina, deeply rooted in Lumbee culture.
In Southeastern North Carolina, the ancestors of the Lumbee people found refuge—escaping warfare, the slave trade, and disease—along the fertile lands of the Lumbee River. Their roots trace back to a mix of Siouan, Algonquian, and Iroquoian-speaking peoples who migrated to what is now Robeson county.
Grounded in agricultural traditions, they built a way of life deeply connected to the land and community.
In the audio above, Producer Mincho Jacob sat down with Coach Sampson as he prepares for another season and to talk about the lessons he carries from his Native upbringing.
Great Job & the Team @ Houston Public Media Source link for sharing this story.
