Coach Huston grew up in Southwest Washington and graduated from Camas High School. He went to Western Washington University and was a three-year letterman. After graduation he was head coach at Ritzville High School for one year and returned to Western Washington University as a graduate assistant basketball coach and received his master’s degree. The next nine years were spent at the community college level. Four years as an assistant basketball coach at Green River Community College and five as head basketball coach at Penninsula Community College in Port Angeles.
Don continued his studies at the University of Washington and was the graduate assistant basketball coach. After one year of course work in higher education, he was hired as head basketball coach at Curtis High School. He served in that capacity from 1978 until 1991. During this thirteen year period his teams had a record of 228 wins and 73 losses, 76%. Over one four year period his teams were 99-9. Curtis High School accomplishments included: state; two 2nd places, two 3rd places and 3 other places; six West Central District Championships, seven South Puget Sound League Championships, & three South Puget Sound League second places.
Coach Huston coached a total of twenty-five years and in 1984 Don was selected as 3A basketball coach of the year. The Washington State Basketball Coaches Association was created in the early 1980’s and Coach Huston was the At Large Representative for the first years of existence.
Don has two brothers that were very involved in Washington basketball. Ed Huston played at the University of Puget Sound and his jersey was retired. The Seattle Super Sonics later drafted him. Denny has a career in coaching which included either head or assistant positions at Clark Community College, Washington State, University of Washington. Western Washington, Stanford, Wyoming, and Weber State.
Don met his wife, Laima, at Western Washington University. She is a physical education teacher, track and cross country coach. They have two daughters, Lija and Mara, who reside in San Francisco and Chicago.
