How Does a College Basketball Program Rise From Near Irrelevance to National Powerhouse?
Hoopsology
In this episode, we sit down with Lauren Sampson, Director of External Basketball Operations for the Houston Cougars men's basketball team, to explore the evolution of the program—from empty arenas to a sold-out Fertitta Center.
🏀 Lauren shares:
The marketing and culture-building behind Houston’s basketball revival
How student engagement and community strategy were built from scratch
What it’s like managing fan relationships, brand identity, and national tournament pressure
The behind-the-scenes grind of balancing academics, NIL, and team loyalty
🎓 Plus: reflections on graduating student-athletes, the legacy of former Cougars, and how Houston is navigating the era of transfer portals and media deals.
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#GoCoogs #CollegeBasketball #HoustonCougars
Houston Cougars basketball, Lauren Sampson, college basketball marketing, University of Houston basketball, NCAA tournament, March Madness, basketball culture, college basketball strategy, student athlete life, NIL college sports, basketball branding, Houston sports, Kelvin Sampson, Fertitta Center, Cougar Pride, Final Four stories, college athletics, behind the scenes college sports, fan engagement college sports, basketball operations
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