Rockets to hire Kelvin Sampson and J.B. Bickerstaff for coaching staff

Updated: July 14, 2011 -- 4:30pm CDT.

The Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen reports the Rockets will hire Kelvin Sampson and J.B. Bickerstaff to join new head coach Kevin McHale's coaching staff.

Sampson will be the lead assistant.

Sampson worked as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks the previous three seasons (2008-2011). Before his stint with the Bucks, Sampson was a college head coach at Indiana University (2006-2008), the University of Oklahoma (1994-2006) and Washington State (1987-1994).

Vincent Goodwill, of the Detroit News reports, Sampson's contract contains a loophole which allows him to leave the Rockets for a head coaching position without receiving permission from the Rockets.

J.B. Bickerstaff worked as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves the previous four seasons (2007-2011).

According to Jerry Zgoda of Minnesota's Star Tribune, J.B. Bickerstaff's joining the Rockets' coaching staff is not a done deal. Bickerstaff may remain an assistant coach with the Timberwolves if his father, Bernie Bickerstaff, is hired as the new Timberwolves' head coach.

Sampson and Bickerstaff would join Chris Finch on McHale's coaching staff.

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