“It’s Not Luck—It’s Principles”Lessons from Coach Kelvin Sampson’s Postgame Interview

After Houston’s dramatic win over Duke in the national semifinal, Head Coach Kelvin Sampson gave a short postgame interview that packed a powerful punch. In under a minute, he revealed principles that aren’t just good for basketball—they’re foundational for life. And the best part? They align perfectly with the values we teach at Especially for Athletes.

Here’s what stood out:

 Resilience

“No one ever loses at anything as long as you don’t quit. When you quit—I don’t care—you’ve lost.”

Coach Sampson reminded us that setbacks aren’t defeats unless we give up. His team wasn’t playing perfectly, but they stayed in the fight, believing something good could happen. That’s what we call resilience—fighting through the hard, holding on to hope, and showing up no matter what.

Win the Hour

“I’m lucky to have them, but it’s not lucky that they do what they do. That’s work. They trust their work. They trust their teammates.”

This is exactly what we mean when we teach athletes to win the hour—to make the most of every practice, every rep, and every opportunity to prepare. As Serena Williams once said, “Luck has nothing to do with it.” It’s about work.

Compete Without Contempt

Coach Sampson gave credit to Duke, to Coach Scheyer, and even to his Big 12 rivals for helping sharpen his team for this moment.

“We weren’t 34–4 playing in the toy poodle league… Playing in the Big 12 helped us.”  That’s competing without contempt—fierce competition without hatred. Respect for your opponents. Honor for the game.

Whether you’re coaching a team, parenting an athlete, or playing the game yourself—remember: the road to greatness isn’t about talent alone. It’s about principle. And when we hear leaders at the highest level echo these truths, we’re reminded that we’re on the right track.

Keep living it. Keep leading it. Eyes up. Do the Work