Athletes - Houston Nutt

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	Athletes - Houston Nutt

Houston Dale Nutt, Jr., (born 14 October 1957), is the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks football team at the University of Arkansas.

Early life and family

Houston Dale Nutt was born on 14 October 1957 at Little Rock, Arkansas. He is the son of Houston Dale Nutt, Sr. and Emogene Nutt and is the oldest of four children. His parents taught at the Arkansas School for the Deaf at Little Rock, Arkansas for 35 years. His father also served as athletic director and head basketball coach for the school. His father was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.

Houston Nutt is married to his wife, Diana, who also graduated from Oklahoma State University. They have four children together: Houston III (3/11/87), twins Hailey and Hanna (9/26/88), and Haven (3/19/91).

As of 2005 Nutt's brother Dickey Nutt is the head basketball coach at Arkansas State University and his brother Danny Nutt is the running backs coach at Arkansas. Nutt's other brother Dennis Nutt is the head basketball coach at Texas State University.

College athletic career

Nutt was the last player recruited by legendary Arkansas head coach Frank Broyles before his retirement in 1976. Nutt was recruited as a drop-back style quarterback and started four games as a true freshman after starting quarterback Ron Calcagni was sidelined with an injury. Nutt also played that year for the Southwest Conference champion Arkansas basketball team under coach Eddie Sutton which went 26-2 and bulled its way to a 16-0 conference mark.

With the retirement of Frank Broyles, Arkansas hired Lou Holtz as the head football coach. Holtz established an option offense which did not make use of Nutt's passing style and relegated him to the bench as a backup.

Disappointed by his lack of playing time, Nutt transferred to Oklahoma State University and played two years as the Cowboy's starting quarterback. During his time at Oklahoma State he also played for the basketball team. Nutt graduated from Oklahoma State in 1981 with a degree in physical education.

Assistant coaching career

After graduation Nutt became a graduate assistant for Oklahoma State under head coach Jimmy Johnson. In 1983 Nutt returned to Arkansas and became an assistant coach under his former coach Lou Holtz. In the spring of 1984 Nutt was hired by Arkansas State University as a full-time assistant coach but chose to return to Oklahoma State that summer as a receiver's coach before ever reporting for the Arkansas State job.

Nutt spent six seasons as an assistant coach for receivers and quarterbacks at Oklahoma State and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 1989. During his years at Oklahoma State he coached legendary running backs Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas.

In 1990 Nutt returned to the University of Arkansas as an assistant under head coach Jack Crowe and established a reputation as an excellent recruiter. Nutt remained with the Razorbacks for three seasons and established relationships with Arkansas high school football coaches that would serve him in good stead in later years.

Career at Murray State

In 1993 Nutt received his first head coaching position at NCAA Division I-AA Murray State University. He struggled during his first two seasons on the field with 4-7 and 5-6 records respectively but had success rebuilding the team personnel.

In 1995 his efforts paid off with an 11-1 record and an Ohio Valley Conference championship after reeling off an 8-0 conference mark. Nutt received Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors and was recognized with the Eddie Robinson National Division I-AA Coach of the Year Award.

Nutt repeated his success for the 1996 season by establishing an 11-2 record and completing another undefeated run through his Ohio Valley Conference schedule. Murray State won its first round Division I-AA playoff appearance, earning Nutt the OVC Coach of the Year honors and regional Coach of the Year honors.

Career at Boise State

Nutt made the step up to NCAA Division I-A the next year when Boise State hired him to take over their program, which was the lowest ranked of 112 Division-IA schools and had posted a poor 2-10 record the year before. Boise State had just made the jump to Division I-A football and was looking for a recruiter and motivator to jump start their program.

Nutt's team earned a respectable 5-6 record in 1997 playing at the Division I-A level with its Division I-AA players. Nutt's team beat rival Idaho and almost pulled off an upset against Big Ten Conference program Wisconsin.

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