Sampson Named Red Earth Ambassador Of The Year

April 23, 2002

NORMAN, Okla. - University of Oklahoma men's basketball coach Kelvin Sampson has been named the Red Earth Ambassador of the Year, the Red Earth board of directors announced this week.

The Red Earth Ambassador of the Year award was founded in 1991 to promote pride in Native American heritage and to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions in presenting a positive image of Native Americans. It is represented by a magnificent bronze sculpture of a proud young warrior holding a coup stick. The sculpture, entitled "To Count Coup," is by Cherokee artist Troy Anderson. Counting coup is considered the ultimate in bravery if the warrior can touch the enemy with his coup stick and escape without injury to either party.

Sampson, of Lumbee Indian heritage, was chosen because he is an exceptional role model for all young people, not only Native American youth, showing what can be accomplished with perseverance and dedication. His skills in motivating young people to do their best are considerable. He exemplifies the role model for young Native Americans to believe they, too, can excel in their chosen field. Win or lose, he maintains his dignity on and off the court and extols his team members to be good citizens.

This year, Sampson led his team to the Big 12 Tournament title and on to the Final Four. The National Association of Basketball Coaches honored him as the NCAA Division I Coach of the Year and the CBS Sports Production staff voted him Chevrolet Coach of the Year. Sampson's first year coaching at the University of Oklahoma earned him three national coach-of-the-year honors in 1995 from the Associated Press, United States Basketball Writers Association and Basketball Weekly.

Sampson will receive the prestigious 2002 Red Earth Ambassador of the Year award in a 2 p.m. ceremony on June 7 during the Red Earth Festival celebration at the Cox Business Services Convention Center in Oklahoma City.

Previous winners of the award are actor Kevin Costner for his sensitive portrayal of Native Americans in "Dances with Wolves"; award-winning author Tony Hillerman; Richard West, director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian; William Allen, editor of National Geographic magazine; television magnate Ted Turner; Native American film actor Wes Studi; Pulitzer Prize-winning author Scott Momaday; Olympic athlete Billy Mills; and Charles Chibitty, of the elite Comanche Code Talkers during World War II.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sampson Named Red Earth Ambassador Of The Year

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors