Cougars mourn loss of honorary motivational coach

PROVO, Utah - BYU softball mourns the loss and celebrates the life of its honorary motivational coach Steven Kay Sampson, who passed away suddenly on Jan. 1, 2023, at 45 years old.

"Steven was a super fan and good friend," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "He was passionate about life and softball. He motivated us all to push through life's challenges. We lost a true winner. He will be missed."

Sampson was born on Friday, May 13, 1977 to Kenneth and Jerelyn Sampson. He was so eager to be born that he was born two months early. This brought on both physical and mental challenges in the form of Cerebral Palsy, but Sampson never allowed these challenges to stop him.

As the youngest of four, he was determined to keep up and be involved. Sampson loved sports. His two favorite sports were college softball and football. He considered everyone he knew and loved as family. Steven is survived by his parents Kenneth and Jerelyn, his siblings Dana (Erick) Sands, Eric (Lisa) Sampson, Brenda (Michael) Lax as well as eight nieces, four nephews, one great niece and one great nephew.

Sampson is preceded in death by both sets of grandparents, an aunt and uncle as well as a nephew. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. PST at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints chapel on 5975 North Clayton St. in North Las Vegas, Nevada 89031.