Basketball in his blood

Basketball has always been part of Colton Houston’s life. Houston, a Mountain Brook High School graduate, has heard stories of his grandfather’s time on the court and seen pictures of his father’s college team days. 

“Basketball runs in our family,” Houston said. “The Houstons have always played basketball.”

Today, Houston, the middle child in a family of three siblings, continues the tradition as part of the University of Alabama’s basketball staff. This year, he served as the director of basketball operations for the first time, though he has been with the team for a total of six seasons.

Speaking from his office in Tuscaloosa, Houston said the excitement surrounding Alabama basketball these days is palpable. Under the leadership of coach Avery Johnson, Houston has watched as Coleman Coliseum has steadily filled to capacity. 

“This first year with coach Johnson has been an unbelievable experience,” Houston said. “Working with him is a pleasure, and though we don’t know what the future holds, the amount of excitement surrounding the program is enough to keep you on your toes.”

Working with Johnson, Houston said, has further helped him appreciate every aspect of the game.

“I’ll say two things about coach, though you can say a lot about him because he’s very successful and charismatic,” Houston said. “One, the person the public sees on TV, hears on the radio or sees at a public event, is the same guy all the time. He has an infectious energy about him. He’s incredibly positive and truly connects with people. It’s like he never has a bad day — he approaches every day with a good attitude.”

On the court, Houston said, is when he believes Johnson shines. The coach’s time in the NBA, he said, brings a myriad of benefits to the Crimson Tide. 

“I don’t think he gets enough credit, from a basketball perspective, for having truly one of the great basketball minds among great coaches,” Houston said. “He is really sharp at the Xs and Os and always helps put the players in a position to be successful. He’s always got an answer on the court.”

The difference in the student and public’s interest isn’t just noticeable in the sellout games, Houston said. It is also “very noticeable” in the midweek games that haven’t always attracted as many fans. Adding to the changed environment, he said, was Johnson’s decision to move the students into better seats near the floor. 

“They add so much to the atmosphere,” Houston said. “When Coach Johnson was hired, moving the students was one of the very first conversations we had.”

On the sideline

Houston attends each of the Tide’s games and has responsibilities on the sideline just like every other staff member. On the sideline, Houston helps keep track of the team’s analytics, a task he says is a personal hobby. 

“The analytics aspect of the game is of particular interest to me,” Houston said. “We use those stats and numbers to help us understand what’s happening on the court and hopefully give us a legup in trying to win a game.” 

As part of his responsibilities as director of basketball operations, Houston also serves as the director of the Avery Johnson Basketball Camp and is responsible for coordinating team travel. In addition, Houston plays a large part in scheduling, on-campus recruiting and has a hand in nearly every aspect of the men’s basketball program.

Before joining the staff at Alabama under then-coach Anthony Grant, Houston graduated from Harvard in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in government. He went on to serve as a teacher and assistant boys basketball coach at Christ School in Arden, North Carolina, where he helped guide the team to a Class 3A state title in 2005. He later went on to receive a master’s degree in divinity from the Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in 2010.

“Unlike my older sister, who knew what she wanted to do since she was 7 years old, I wasn’t always quite sure,” Houston said about his education and career paths up to this point. 

One thing he did know for sure, however, was that he missed being part of the game: His love for basketball never wavered. 

“I missed coaching,” he said, “so I started looking for ways to get back into it.”

Houston said he was at the right place at the right time when, five years ago, Alabama was looking to hire young guys as graduate assistants. Because he already had a graduate degree, Houston helped out as a volunteer. From there, Houston became an intern before eventually being hired full-time. He has spent time as the operations coordinator (2013-15), athletics intern (2011-13) and office assistant (2010-11).

“I was fortunate enough that when coach Johnson came on board, he wanted to keep me,” Houston said. 

Support at home

Houston said he attributes much of his success to his upbringing. His education in Mountain Brook City Schools, he said, was incredibly helpful in preparing him for life outside of school, from an academic, athletic and social standpoint. In school, Houston played basketball, football and baseball. 

“I owe a ton to the Mountain Brook school system,” Houston said. “I don’t know if I would have achieved everything I did had I not been surrounded by such driven students and great teachers all the way through, from elementary through high school.”

The opportunity for that education, Houston said, is attributable to his parents, who he said specifically moved from Dothan to Mountain Brook when he was 4 years old because of the school system. 

“My family has now lived in Mountain Brook for more than 30 years,” he said. “I’ve got my family and lifelong friends still there.”

Houston said he, his wife, Megan, and their baby girl, Caroline, still frequent Mountain Brook. Houston’s sister, Dr. Jenny Oakes Sobera, owns Village Dermatology, and his brother, Hunter, who played basketball in college, also lives in the area. 

“Mountain Brook will always be home,” Houston said. “I spent my first 18 years of life there. Nothing is going to compare to the feeling of home.”

Still, Houston said he and his wife have grown incredibly fond of Tuscaloosa, and it, too, holds a special place in their hearts.

“Our first year here, we had only been in Tuscaloosa for eight months when the April 27, 2011, tornado hit,” Houston said. “We were only about three blocks from the main damage.”

It was that tragedy, he said, that helped bring the community together and inspired the Houstons to plant their own roots in the city. 

“We helped in the cleanup and recovery efforts,” Houston said. “We’ve become invested in this community. We own a home here now, and this will likely be where our daughter, Caroline, will spend her childhood.” 

Like the excitement surrounding the basketball program, Houston sees Tuscaloosa’s recent growth as positive change.

“There’s so much happening here,” he said, “so much to be thankful for and excited about.”