Hoosiers introduce Sampson as new coach

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana fans greeted new Hoosier coach Kelvin Sampson with a standing ovation. His next job is keeping them on their feet.

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Sampson took over one of America's most prestigious basketball schools Wednesday and quickly promised to keep Indiana's tradition intact by doing three things: graduating players, running a clean program and winning titles.

"I came to Indiana for one reason: I think you can win championships at Indiana," Sampson said. "I think together we can do some special things at Indiana University."

With his wife Karen, daughter Lauren and son Kellen watching from the front row, a couple of hundred eager students burst into a chant of "Hoo, Hoo, Hoo-siers" on cue.

But even as Sampson signed a seven-year deal that pays an average of $1.5 million annually -- what athletic director Rick Greenspan believes is the richest deal for a coach in school history -- Sampson's emotions covered a wide swath.

Kelvin Sampson knows basketball is important to the state of Indiana. (AP)

Then he sent an optimistic message about returning the Hoosiers' program to glory after going 19 seasons without a national championship. The students responded with their loudest applause of the day.

Finally, Sampson appeared conciliatory when the two issues that tarnished his reputation at Oklahoma -- graduation and NCAA violations -- were addressed. He leaves Oklahoma amid an NCAA investigation into more than 550 impermissible phone calls made to recruits by Sampson and his assistant coaches. Sooners officials are scheduled to appear before the NCAA infractions committee on April 21.

Any sanctions against Sampson could follow him to Indiana.

"It is a little bit embarrassing to stand up here and be asked about NCAA violations, but you also have to realize we're human and we make mistakes," he said. "I made a mistake but we've corrected it and moved forward."

Clearly, the allegations were an issue for Indiana, which has a long-standing reputation of avoiding NCAA trouble.

University President Adam Herbert addressed the allegations in his introductory remarks, and Stephen Ferguson, the president of the university's trustees, acknowledged it was something top officials sought to clarify during the interview process.

"That was obviously our No. 1 concern," Ferguson said. "We spoke with the attorney and Oklahoma extensively. We reviewed the situation and we were satisfied."