Oklahoma Adult Education & Literacy Conference

Welcome to the Oklahoma Adult Ed & Literacy Conference: Game Changers

Introducing Your Keynote Speaker:
Houston Nutt

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Houston Nutt grew up in a family where achievement and service were a way of life. His parents spent 35 years teaching at the Arkansas School for the Deaf, where his father also served as athletic director and head basketball coach. Their example gave Houston a deep respect for education and for those who help others grow. His mother, an Oklahoma native, met his father at Oklahoma A&M — now Oklahoma State — creating a Cowboy connection that helped shape the Nutt family.

Continue reading about Coach Nutt...

After leading Little Rock Central High School to a perfect 12-0 state championship, Nutt was recruited by Frank Broyles. He spent two years at the University of Arkansas before transferring to Oklahoma State, where he played football and basketball and earned a degree in Physical Education. His wife, Diana, is also an Oklahoma State graduate.

After graduating, Nutt began coaching as an assistant under Jimmy Johnson and Pat Jones at Oklahoma State, working with future Hall of Famers Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas. He later returned to Arkansas as an assistant under the legendary Lou Holtz.

Nutt’s first head coaching job at Murray State produced a 31-16 record, back-to-back OVC championships, consecutive playoff appearances, and a remarkable 16-0 conference record across two seasons. He earned the Eddie Robinson National Division I-AA Coach of the Year Award before moving to Boise State and, eventually, his dream job.

At Arkansas, Nutt led the Razorbacks to seven bowl games and three SEC Western Division titles, earning National Coach of the Year honors in 1998 and SEC Coach of the Year honors in 2001 and 2006. Raised by educators, he emphasized academics and athletics, mentoring 20 All-Americans, 85 All-SEC players, and 175 SEC Academic Honor Roll honorees.

He later guided Ole Miss to back-to-back Cotton Bowl victories, becoming one of only three coaches to win that bowl with two programs. In 2008, he again earned SEC Coach of the Year honors, joining Bear Bryant, Steve Spurrier, and Nick Saban among the few coaches to receive the award at multiple schools.

Nutt has been inducted into the Cotton Bowl, Murray State, and Arkansas Sports Halls of Fame. He also ranks as the second-winningest coach in Arkansas history, behind only Frank Broyles — the man who first recruited him.

Since retiring, Nutt has served as a CBS Sports college football analyst and sought-after speaker on leadership and resilience. His life and career show that determination, not circumstance, writes the final score — and that championships are built one relationship, one recruit, and one fourth-quarter comeback at a time.