Hailie Sample joined the McKendree University athletics family in July 2017 as an assistant coach for the women's basketball program.
During her time with the Bearcats' program, Sample has helped the program to a pair of Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament berths. McKendree went on a late-season run to grab a spot in the field for the 2018 GLVC Tournament. A year later, the Bearcats battled into the conference post-season field as the No. 8 seed, then took No. 1-ranked and top-seeded Drury University down to the wire in a 2019 GLVC Tournament quarterfinal matchup before the Panthers escaped with the win in the closing seconds.
Among her many duties within the McKendree program, Sample -- who was a front-court player in college -- aided in the development of the Bearcats' post play. One player who benefitted from Sample's knowledge was guard/forward Madison Hart. In 2019-20, Hart finished fourth in the GLVC -- and 40th overall in NCAA Division II -- in rebounding at 9.6 RPG. That total marked the Bearcats' highest rebounding average for a season since transitioning to NCAA Division II membership in 2012-13. It was also the highest single-season rebounding average for a McKendree player since the 1994-95 campaign.
Sample, who enjoyed a stellar four-year playing career at the University of Nebraska, came to McKendree after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at Wayne State College. During those two years with the Wildcats’ program, Sample helped guide Wayne State to 40 victories, which included a 23-win campaign and a berth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament semifinals in 2016-17.
As a member of the Wayne State staff, Sample tutored the Wildcats’ guards and post players while assisting in all other phases of practice. In addition, Sample helped with game film analysis for scouting reports, coordinated team events, aided in team travel arrangements and monitored student-athlete academics. On the court, Sample helped lead the Wildcats to a pair of NSIC Tournament appearances. In addition to its conference tournament semifinal appearance this past season, Wayne State closed the regular season as the NSIC South Division runner-up.
Sample entered the coaching ranks following a four-year playing career at Nebraska. A two-year team captain for the Huskers, Sample etched her name in the team record book for her play over her four seasons. She is tied for third in Nebraska women’s basketball history for career starts with 131, and sits 10th all-time with 717 career rebounds. In fact, Sample is one of just five players in Nebraska history to register 700 points, 700 rebounds and 300 assists in a career.
As a senior at Nebraska in 2014-15, Sample established career-highs in both scoring (7.7 PPG) and rebounding (7.0 RPG) while matching a career-best with 17 blocked shots. She set the Huskers’ single-season record for field goal percentage, hitting 61.1 percent of her shot attempts. That mark was second among all Big Ten players as well. During the 2014 Big Ten Tournament, Sample led all participants in total rebounds (30) and offensive rebounds in leading Nebraska to the Big Ten Tournament championship, which was the first in program history. That season, she was a Big Ten All-Defensive Team honoree.
In each of Sample’s four seasons at Nebraska, the Huskers earned an NCAA Tournament berth. Nebraska reached the Sweet 16 during her sophomore season in 2012-13. Sample was a part of 96 victories recorded by the Huskers, which made her part of the most successful senior class in school history.
Along with her on-court accomplishments, Sample was a two-time recipient of the Tom Osborne Sportsmanship Award (2014 and 2015), and was a Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree in 2015. In addition, Sample was selected to participate in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) “So You Want To Be a Coach?” program at the 2015 Women’s Final Four in Tampa, Fla.
The Flower Mound, Texas, native graduated from Nebraska with a bachelor’s degree in business marketing in 2015. She completed requirements for her master’s degree in organizational management from Wayne State in May 2017.
