section_path: Coaching career/Washington State
section_name: Washington State
paragraph_text: Washington State
  
  After five years at Montana Tech, Sampson joined the staff at Washington State University in June 1985 under head coach Len Stevens, replacing Stu Jackson as assistant coach. Two years later in April 1987, Stevens left the Palouse for Nevada and Sampson was promoted to head coach at age 31, with a two-year contract and a base salary of $42,500 per year. When he led the Cougars to the NIT in 1992, it was Washington State's first postseason appearance in nine years. Sampson was named Kodak District 14 Coach of the Year by the NABC for the second time in three years; he first won it in 1991 when the Cougars produced their first winning season since 1983. Sampson was also named Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 1992. In his final year in Pullman in 1994, he led WSU to their first NCAA tournament berth in eleven years. With records of 22–11 in 1992 and 20–11 in 1994, Sampson became one of only four men to win twenty or more games in a single season in Washington State history; he finished with a 103–103 record in his seven seasons as head coach.
  
  After five years at Montana Tech, Sampson joined the staff at Washington State University in June 1985 under head coach Len Stevens, replacing Stu Jackson as assistant coach. Two years later in April 1987, Stevens left the Palouse for Nevada and Sampson was promoted to head coach at age 31, with a two-year contract and a base salary of $42,500 per year. When he led the Cougars to the NIT in 1992, it was Washington State's first postseason appearance in nine years. Sampson was named Kodak District 14 Coach of the Year by the NABC for the second time in three years; he first won it in 1991 when the Cougars produced their first winning season since 1983. Sampson was also named Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 1992. In his final year in Pullman in 1994, he led WSU to their first NCAA tournament berth in eleven years. With records of 22–11 in 1992 and 20–11 in 1994, Sampson became one of only four men to win twenty or more games in a single season in Washington State history; he finished with a 103–103 record in his seven seasons as head coach.