In the realm of college basketball, there have been few coaches who bring the depth of experience similar to what Houston Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson does. Starting his career at just 24 years of age, Sampson has devoted over 45 years to the game. Wherever he’s coached, Sampson has built competitive teams with consistent playoff runs, earning respect across the sport.

But there’s one thing that’s endured as long as Kelvin Sampson’s coaching career—his relationship with his lifelong partner. Their love story began years before Sampson chose coaching, a journey that started in the late 1970s. So who is the woman who captured Sampson’s heart all those years ago, standing by his side through every season and setback?

What is Karen Lowry Sampson’s Family Background?

She was born on Jan. 12, 1956, in Pembroke, N.C., to Sue and Willie Von Lowry. Her father, a proud member of the Lumbee Indian tribe (the largest Native American tribe east of the Mississippi), served in World War II and the Korean War, where he distinguished himself, before dying in 1998. This service and community legacy became innate to Karen’s character.

Karen grew up with her brother Kelvin K. Lowry, instilling strong values of hard work and dedication. (As for her brother, he carried on the family tradition during his time with Robeson County Search and Rescue and the Pembroke Town Fire Department, until his early death in 2009.) These formative years instilled in Karen a lifelong commitment to family that would later define her role as a coach’s wife.

How Did Kelvin Sampson and Karen Lowry Meet?

Their love story started in a Pembroke High School history room, an ironic location, as that was also the school where Kelvin’s father worked. Karen reminisced about the early courtship: “I remember the first time Kelvin called me on my home phone. He’s like, ‘What’s our history assignment? This humble start turned into a life-long partnership.

They were married on June 16, 1979, after dating for six years through high school and college. When Kelvin noted: “Started dating at 16, now married 43 years. A special place in heaven for coaches wives I swear.” That bond would later serve as the bedrock of Kelvin’s success as a coach.

What is Karen Lowry Sampson’s Background and Career?

In 1976, as a marching band member, Karen graduated with honors from UNC Pembroke with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Larry and Janet Rogers My mom, Janet, started her career as a first grade teacher at Tanglewood Elementary, helping shape young minds before she devoted herself to helping Kelvin pursue his coaching career.

In addition to teaching, in 1976 Karen represented her community when she was first runner-up and Miss Congeniality in the Miss Lumbee pageant. Even through her appointment to the UNC Pembroke Board of Trustees in 2018 and over two decades spent working with the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO), her commitment to education shone through, encapsulating her passion for service at all levels of her life.

How is Karen and Kelvin’s Life as a Couple?

Kelvin’s coaching odyssey has been grounded by Karen, who has helped him through seven relocations over the years to various states. From early days as a Michigan State assistant to Houston’s Final Four run, she’s been there through every stage of his career, personifying the Lumbee values of resilience she was raised with.

Thinking back on his bond with his partner, Kelvin wrote further про his pride in Karen’s unyielding support in keeping him grounded all throughout his working career. “I don’t really care about (the spotlight),” he said. “I have the best assistant coach I’ve ever had — my wife (Karen). Being with my family, being able to put time into my program, that’s been the highlight of my career,” Sampson told The Robesonian in 2015.

Probably the best person I’ve ever been around is Karen.” This deep mutual respect has sustained their marriage through basketball’s demands.

What is Karen’s Role in Their Family?

As matriarch, Karen has skillfully balanced family and basketball. The kids both work at Houston — Lauren in operations and Kellen as an assistant coach. Kelvin admits Reichert plays a central role: “She’s been the straw that stirred the drink… behind the scenes she’s the one that holds this thing together.”

She also supports Kelvin’s teams, such as when she asked  ‘a basketball that every kid on the team sign it’  from his first 13-19 Houston team. It illustrates the way she’s cared for her immediate family and their wider basketball family amid every adversity.

What is Karen’s Ethnicity?

Karen’s Lumbee roots are still an essential part of her identity and everyday life. In how she supports her family, philanthropic work (from PEO), honors her heritage (from the Tuscarora tribe, based in North Carolina), and embraces her role in basketball, you see the community, perseverance and service qualities of this tribe come shining through. Those cultural roots were instilled in the Sampson family, on and off the court.

The Sampsons’ love story, rooted in high school sweethearts growing up to become lifelong partners, is an inspiring tale of loyalty and partner-work. Through each and every move, career challenge and family milestone, Karen has been the rock and the glue, and if you’ve ever wondered why behind every good coach is an even better significant other, you now know.

What is it that you think makes Karen such an inspiring figure? Let us know in the comments!