Sampson Takes $750,000 to Leave Indiana

Buyout comes as coach, university face recruiting violations

By Mitch Pritchard, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 22, 2008 9:24 PM CST

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Sampson Takes $750,000 to Leave Indiana — Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson, right, is greeted by former Indiana University President Adam Herbert following a 80-61 win over Michigan State in a college basketball game in Bloomington, Ind., Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (Associated Press)

The Indiana Hoosiers will continue their run to the Big Ten and NCAA titles without their coach. Kelvin Sampson, who has been under fire since Feb. 13 when the NCAA said Indiana was facing major recruiting violations, took a $750,000 buyout and resigned as coach today, reports the Indianapolis Star. Dan Dakich was named interim coach starting with Saturday's game at Northwestern.

Athletic director Rick Greenspan said he was sorry the relationship ended this way, but the university had to think of the long-term interests of the program. Under the agreement, Sampson can't sue the university. The violations stem from restrictions the NCAA put on Sampson and his staff because of previous phone-call violations Sampson made while at Oklahoma. (More NCAA stories.)

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