Kelvin Sampson to coach Houston Rockets while Kevin McHale takes leave of absence
BY Associated Press
Sunday, November 11, 2012
11/11/12 at 7:06 AM
HOUSTON - Houston Rockets coach Kevin McHale took a leave of absence on Saturday to deal with a family matter.
The team announced the move and said assistant coach Kelvin Sampson will be in charge while McHale is out. Sampson, the former Oklahoma head coach, said McHale called him Saturday afternoon and asked him to coach the team.
"Hopefully whatever the family matter is, it gets taken care of," Sampson said. "That's the most important thing."
There is no timetable for the return of the second-year coach and Hall of Fame player. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey didn't provide any further details on the specifics of the situation, but expressed his concern for McHale.
Sampson is in his second season with the Rockets after spending three years as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks after he was fired by Indiana University.
Original Print Headline: McHale takes leave of absence from Rockets
