SAN MARCOS, Texas– The coaching tree featuring head coach Danny Kaspar as the roots are beginning to flourish on the Division I level of collegiate basketball as three of his former assistants will participate in the 2019 NCAA Sweet 16 highlighted by Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard, along with Houston's assistant coach Kellen Sampson and Purdue's assistant coach Steve Lutz.

"The thing that binds all three of these guys together is their love for the game, their work ethic, and their hunger to learn as much as they could about basketball," said coach Kaspar.
 
After being picked toward the bottom of the 2018-19 Big 12 Preseason Poll, Coach Beard led the Texas Tech Red Raiders to its second consecutive appearance in the Sweet 16 after advancing to the Elite Eight last season. Beard began his career with coach Kaspar as a graduate assistant at Incarnate Word. No. 3 Texas Tech will square off vs. No. 2 Michigan at 8:39 p.m. CT today at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
 
Assistant coach Kellen Sampson has contributed to the University of Houston's success this year where they have produced 33 wins and a Sweet 16 appearance, the first in 35 years for the Cougars. Sampson spent one year under Kaspar as an assistant coach at Stephen F. Austin. No. 3 Houston will face No. 7 Kentucky at 9 p.m. CT on March 29 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.
 
Lead assistant coach Steve Lutz has helped the Purdue Boilermakers in making their third consecutive Sweet 16 appearance for the second time in the school's history. Lutz was partnered with Kaspar for nine seasons as an assistant, three at Incarnate Word and six at Stephen F. Austin. No. 3 Purdue will battle with No. 2 Tennessee at 6:29 p.m. CT today at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.
 
"All three were very enthusiastic, hard-working individuals who were quick learners." Kaspar said. "I felt they would all be successful after spending some time with them."
 
In addition to the trio of coaches in the Sweet 16, Kaspar has two more former assistants that have been in postseason play this year on the Division I level, including associate head coach Brette Tanner at Abilene Christian who made it to the NCAA Tournament, and assistant coach Michael Lewis at Nebraska who played in the NIT. Tanner was an assistant under Kaspar for seven years at Stephen F. Austin and Lewis had a one-year stint with Kaspar at SFA as well.  

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