Wade Houston
Wade Houston (born October 9, 1944)
Teams coached: Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee record: 65-90 (.419)
Overall record: 65-90 (.419)
Career Accomplishments:
- NCAA National Championships: 0
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 0
- NIT Championships: 0
- NIT Appearances: 2 (1990, 1992)
Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):
1989-1994 | Tennessee |
1976-1989 | Louisville (asst) |
Wade Houston Facts
- Allan Wade Houston ,Sr.
- Born October 9, 1944
- Hometown: Alcoa, Tennessee
- Alma Mater: University of Louisville (BA, 1966 & MA)
- Grew up in the small town of Alcoa, TN, located 20 minutes outside of Knoxville; his high school team often had to travel long distances just to play games
- Recruited by assistant John Dromo and head coach Peck Hickman to play at Louisville; alongside Eddie Whitehead and Sam Smith became the first African American scholarship players in UL program history
- Worked as a high school teacher and then played professionally for a bit overseas before starting his coaching career at Ahrens HS (KY)
- Spent two seasons at Ahrens and then three seasons at Louisville Male HS (KY) before returning to his alma mater in 1976
- Was an assistant under Hall of Fame head coach Denny Crum for thirteen seasons at Louisville; was the first African American coach in program history
- Part of 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, including four Final Fours and two National Championships (1980 and 1986)
- Hired in 1989 to be the head coach at Tennessee, also becoming the first African American head men’s basketball coach in SEC history
- Led the Vols for five seasons, four of which featured his son, future NBA player Allan Houston, as the team’s star player
- Went to the NIT twice but never the NCAA Tournament; the Vols were 5-22 in 1993-94 after the younger Houston had gone to the NBA and the elder Houston resigned after the season
- Houston moved back to Louisville and now works in the private sector; most recently, he ran a trucking and transportation business
- Very active in the Louisville community and also runs an annual charity golf tournament in his hometown of Alcoa, TN
Wade Houston Coaching Tree
- Kevin Whitted (Westchester Knicks, ABA)