Bucks introduce Sampson as latest coach on staff

MILWAUKEE -- Kelvin Sampson wants to restore his reputation and continue his career, and hopes he took a step in that direction by accepting a job as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday.

But Sampson will pass on the chance to explain his version of a messy divorce with Indiana University until after an NCAA hearing in mid-June.

"More will come out, and I'll be more than happy to talk after that," Sampson said.

Sampson's new boss, Bucks coach Scott Skiles, cautioned people not to jump to conclusions about Sampson's character.

"Maybe when this all comes out, it will end up not being as serious as originally thought," Skiles said.

Sampson, who resigned from Indiana Feb. 22 and accepted a $750,000 buyout after an NCAA report charged him with five major rules violations, agreed to become an assistant to Skiles earlier this month and was introduced in a news conference Monday.

Sampson said his reputation is "very important" to him, but only knows one way to regain it.

"Just be who I've been my entire life," Sampson said. "Sometimes you take hits that you have to overcome, but that's something that I just work at as I go forward."

Skiles said Sampson deserved another chance.

"I've been the direct beneficiary of second and third chances in my own life, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to return the favor for some things people did for me," Skiles said.

But Skiles said that wasn't the main reason he hired Sampson.

"The big, big reason is that he's a hell of a coach," Skiles said.

Bucks general manager John Hammond said the team didn't have any concerns about Sampson's character.