WADE HOUSTON - First Black Head Coach in SEC

Wade Houston made history as the first African American to sign a basketball scholarship at the University of Louisville and later became the first African American head coach in the Southeastern Conference when he took over the University of Tennessee men's basketball program in 1989.

After coaching stints at the high school and collegiate levels, he transitioned into business, becoming President of Dry Ice Blasting Technologies, while remaining deeply active in community leadership, philanthropy, and scholarship programs.

LEGACY

• First African American to sign a basketball scholarship at the University of Louisville, where he earned his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees
• First African American head basketball coach in the Southeaster Conference (SEC) leading the University of Tennessee for five seasons ('89-'94)
• Assistant Coach under Denny Crum at University of Louisville for 13 years until 1999
• Currently President of Dry Ice Blasting Technologies, a division of Houston-Johnson, Inc.
• Founder of the Black Coaches and Co-Founder of the African American Business Alliance
• In partnership with Junior Bridgeman, Houston founded the Houston-Bridgeman scholarship program at the University of Louisville