UCLA Coach Sends Houston's Sampson $1 on Venmo After Funding Complaints

Mick Cronin's playful jab comes after Kelvin Sampson lamented Houston's 'poor' athletic department budget.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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After Houston men's basketball coach Kelvin Sampson complained about his program's lack of funding compared to other power conference schools, UCLA coach Mick Cronin sent Sampson $1 on Venmo with a message telling him he heard Sampson's comments and wanted to help, albeit with just a dollar.

Why it matters

Sampson's comments highlighted the financial disparities between college basketball's haves and have-nots, with Houston being one of the most successful programs despite having the lowest athletic department budget among power conference schools. Cronin's gesture was a lighthearted way to acknowledge those challenges.

The details

After Houston's 79-55 win over UCF on Feb. 4, Sampson told reporters, 'We have a very poor athletic department. We're poor. We were poor when I got here, and we're still poor.' Cronin then Venmo'd Sampson $1, telling him, 'Yo, man, I heard your shtick — (at) postgame press conferences, you gotta learn not to say certain things. But I did get that you don't have very much, so here's a dollar.'

  • On February 4, 2026, Kelvin Sampson made comments about Houston's poor athletic department budget after a win over UCF.
  • On February 16, 2026, Mick Cronin sent Kelvin Sampson $1 on Venmo in response to Sampson's comments.

The players

Kelvin Sampson

The head coach of the Houston men's basketball team, which has been a national title contender despite having the lowest athletic department budget among power conference schools.

Mick Cronin

The head coach of the UCLA men's basketball team, who sent Sampson $1 on Venmo as a playful jab in response to Sampson's comments about Houston's lack of funding.

Houston Cougars

The men's basketball team at the University of Houston, which has been highly successful under Sampson's leadership despite having the lowest athletic department budget among power conference schools.

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What they’re saying

“Mick Cronin had the best line. He Venmos me a dollar … (and) he said, 'Yo, man, I heard your shtick — (at) postgame press conferences, you gotta learn not to say certain things. But I did get that you don't have very much, so here's a dollar.'”

— Kelvin Sampson, Head Coach, Houston Cougars (The Field of 68)

What’s next

The Cougars will look to continue their strong season and make a deep NCAA Tournament run despite their financial challenges, while Cronin's playful gesture has added some levity to the ongoing discussion about the funding disparities in college basketball.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the significant financial challenges faced by successful mid-major and non-traditional college basketball powers like Houston, which have to compete with the massive budgets of traditional blue bloods. Despite these obstacles, Houston has remained a national title contender, showcasing the power of smart coaching, player development, and a strong team culture.