ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
Denny Huston’s 40+ year love affair with athletics started when he was a teenager. As a point guard on the Camas Jr. High basketball team, he was the leader on the floor. Since then Denny has played and coached at the junior college level, NAIA, small college, and Division I level.
Denny graduated from Camas HS in 1959 and then went on to Clark College to continue his academic and athletic career. He was an all-star member of the Penguin basketball team and then graduated from Clark in 1961. Often overlooked are Huston's extensive academic achievements. After Clark, he earned an undergraduate degree in 1963 and then a master’s degree in ’65 from Western Washington University. He was well on his way to a Doctorate in Biomechanics at Washington State University when it struck him that he could have more immediate success sticking to basketball. He then returned to Clark as assistant and subsequently head basketball coach for four years. And preceding his great NCAA coaching run was also a teaching gig at Clark College in the math department. Future coaching positions took him to the University of Washington, University of Wyoming, Western Washington, Stanford University and Weber State. He retired from coaching as head basketball coach at Weber State in Utah in 1991.
Denny was an integral partner in the formation of the Penguin Athletic Club (PAC) in 1996. He is a former PAC president and currently a strong supporter of Clark College and Penguin athletics. In 2008, Denny came out of retirement to help out the Clark Athletic department and assumed the role of Interim Athletic Director. He held that position until 2011.
In his spare time, Denny enjoys playing golf and pickle ball, and volunteering for many non-profit organizations. Denny and his wife Joan, of 53 years, have three children (Kelly 50, Lodi 48 and Chris 46) and three grandchildren.
Coaching Highlights
Clark College
1966-69 59-25 record (won 70% of games)
1968-69 won the region
Washington State University – Head Coach of freshman team
1969-70 19-6
1970-71 only lost 3 games
University of Washington
1971-72 Finished second place in the PAC-8 with only 3 losses
1977-78 Competed in the NCAA tournament; lost to Missouri
Icelandic National team
1978 Head Coach in the Polar Cup (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark & Iceland)
Won the bronze medal. It was the first time Iceland medaled in the tournament
Western Washington University
1981 Made to semi-finals of tournament; Lost to Central Washington University
University of Wyoming
1986 Went to the NIT at Madison Square Garden; beat Florida in the semi-finals and lost
to Ohio State in the Finals
Stanford University
1988 Went to the NIT; first post-season tournament in 10 years
Weber State
1988-91 Semi-finals of the Big Sky Tournament each year
