Wade Houston facts for kids

Wade Houston (born October 9, 1944) is a famous former basketball player and coach. He is also a successful businessman. In 1962, Wade Houston made history. He was the first African American to get a basketball scholarship at the University of Louisville. He earned two degrees there. Later, he played and coached basketball professionally in France. After that, he became an assistant coach at Louisville. He then became the head coach at the University of Tennessee.

Wade Houston's Life and Community Work

Wade Houston is very active in his community. He cares a lot about helping others. He started the Black Coaches group. He also helped create the African American Business Alliance. These groups help people in business and sports.

He is part of several important groups. These include Old National Bank and The Rawlings Group. He also serves on the University of Louisville Athletic Board. He is even on the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

Wade Houston and Junior Bridgeman started a scholarship program. It helps students at the University of Louisville. He also helps with the Allan Houston Legacy Foundation. This foundation helps fathers and sons build strong relationships. It also helps mentors and young people connect.

Every year, he hosts a special golf event. It takes place in Alcoa, Tennessee. This event raises money for high school seniors. The money helps them go to college. He also received an honorary doctorate degree. This was from Spalding University.

Wade Houston's story was featured in a book. The book is called "Passing the Torch." It shares stories of business leaders in Louisville, Kentucky. Wade Houston is married to Alice Kean Houston. They have three children: Allan, Lynn, and Natalie.

His Basketball Coaching Career

Wade Houston was an assistant coach for 13 years. He worked under Denny Crum at the University of Louisville. In 1989, he became the head coach. This was for the University of Tennessee basketball team. When he took this job, he made history again. He was the first African American head coach in the SEC. The SEC is a major college sports conference.

His son, Allan, played basketball for him at Tennessee. Allan later became a professional player. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played for the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks.

Today, Wade Houston is a businessman. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky. He owns a company that handles trucking and transportation.

College Coaching Record

Wade Houston coached the Tennessee Volunteers team. This was in the Southeastern Conference. Here is a look at his coaching record: