Wade Houston facts for kids
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 9, 1944 |
| Playing career | |
| 1963–1966 | Louisville |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1971–1973 | Ahrens HS (KY) |
| 1973–1976 | Louisville Male HS (KY) |
| 1976–1989 | Louisville (assistant) |
| 1989–1994 | Tennessee |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 65–90 (college) |
| Tournaments | 2–2 (NIT) |
Wade Houston (born October 9, 1944) is a former basketball player and coach. He is also a successful businessman. In 1962, Wade Houston made history. He became the first African American to receive a basketball scholarship at the University of Louisville. He earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees there. Later, he played and coached professional basketball in France. After that, he became an assistant coach at Louisville. He then became the head coach at the University of Tennessee.
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Wade Houston's Life and Contributions
Wade Houston has always been very involved in his community. He started the Black Coaches group. He also helped create the African American Business Alliance. These groups support Black coaches and businesses.
He serves on the boards of several important organizations. These include Old National Bank and The Rawlings Group. He also helps guide the University of Louisville Athletic Board. He is even part of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.
Helping Students and Families
Wade Houston co-founded the Houston-Bridgeman scholarship program. This program helps students attend the University of Louisville. He also serves on the board of the Allan Houston Legacy Foundation. This foundation helps fathers and sons build strong relationships. It also supports mentors and young people.
Every year, he hosts a special charity golf event. This event takes place in Alcoa, Tennessee. It raises money to help high school seniors go to college. He also received an honorary doctorate degree from Spalding University.
His Family Life
Wade Houston is married to Alice Kean Houston. They have three children together. Their names are Allan, Lynn, and Natalie. His son Allan became a famous basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association for teams like the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks.
Wade Houston's Basketball Career
Wade Houston was an assistant coach for 13 years. He worked under coach Denny Crum at the University of Louisville. This was until 1989. That year, he was chosen to be the head coach of the University of Tennessee.
When he took the job at Tennessee, he made history again. He became the first African-American head coach in the SEC. The SEC is the Southeastern Conference, a major college sports league.
Coaching Record at Tennessee
Wade Houston coached the Tennessee Volunteers from 1989 to 1994. His overall record as a college coach was 65 wins and 90 losses. He led his team to the NIT twice.
What Wade Houston Does Now
Today, Wade Houston is a successful businessman. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky. He owns and runs a trucking and transportation business. He is also the President of Dry Ice Blasting Technologies. This is a part of his company, Houston-Johnson, Inc.
