Joe Huston (1915 – 1975) played his college football at the University of Oregon in the 1930’s and his love of the game led to a distinguished coaching career.
Huston was known as a “real gentleman of athletics” throughout his 21 years of high school and college coaching. He was also known as a champion, first at Bend High School where his Lava Bears won the first sanctioned OSAA football title in 1940, his only season in Central Oregon.
After one year at Roosevelt in Portland, military service took Huston away to WWII. Upon his return Joe took over at Grant and won another state title in his first season.
Then it was up Palatine Hill for a 25-year career at Lewis & Clark College as football head coach, basketball assistant, physical education instructor, dean of students and eventually athletic director.
Once again, Huston presided over a winning program. The Pioneers won the Northwest Conference six times and had a winning record against all conference opponents. The 1950 team finished undefeated and ranked #2 in the country among small colleges, defeating San Francisco State in the Pear Bowl. That squad had a 97% graduation rate and eleven members were named All-NWC. 1963 was another undefeated campaign.
In eighteen seasons as head coach at Lewis & Clark, Joe’s teams had a record of 100-52-7, making him the winningest football coach in school history. Those Pioneer teams produced 15 All-Americans.
Huston was twice named NAIA District Two Coach of the Year. He was runner-up for the NAIA Football Coach of the Year in 1963. After stepping down from coaching in 1964, Joe was the Athletic Director until his retirement in 1972.
The Huston Sports Complex baseball and softball fields on the Lewis & Clark campus are named in his honor.
