Lafayette Jeff girls basketball coach SJ Houston creates safe space in cooking class

LAFAYETTE — Sugar and butter creamed lined and formed in perfect symmetry for Lafayette Jeff High School senior Mark Reyes.

Reyes had crafted his wedding cake by maximizing both his space and ingredients to create layers with help from culinary and interior design teacher SJ Houston.

Reyes carried a huge smile, admiring his work and showing the pleased Johnson his creation.

"It's a unique experience because we make a lot of different desserts and there's a lot of different foods," Reyes said. "We taste everything afterwards and that's probably the best part."

Watching students learn is what encapsulates the teaching experience for Houston, who is also the school's lead assistant girls basketball coach.

Houston was named the PGC Transformational Coach of the Year by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association for the contributions he has made at Lafayette Jeff.

The award stems from his work both as a coach and home economics teacher while going above and beyond his hours in the classroom to provide a positive experience for students.

"I'm pretty humbled to receive the award," Houston said. "There are a lot of great coaches in the state of Indiana and in Tippecanoe County."

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College injuries and career pivot

Houston was a once-promising basketball player who graduated from Lafayette Jeff in 2004 before attending Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois. But his career took the ultimate hit when he tore his ACL during his sophomore year and junior year, forcing him to give up his dreams of playing college basketball.

He would eventually attend and graduate college from Purdue and later worked at the university before finding his passion for teaching with encouragement from his wife Christine.

Christine teaches earth science at Lafayette Jeff and would share stories about the lives she was impacting.

"I was working at Purdue and then COVID hit," Houston said. "While I was at Purdue I had an opportunity to work with people but then my job changed and I became a governmental paper pusher. I knew I had to do something else because that was just not me. (Christine) was telling me about the fun she was having and I knew I needed a career change. It was calling me home."

Houston began his teaching at Lafayette Jeff in 2020 and was the head varsity girls coach in 2021 before Jenna Sullivan took the job over in the winter of 2022.

Supporting Lafayette Jeff's growth

Houston has continued to support Sullivan while becoming a favorite among students because of his outgoing personality and relatability with students.

"He's one of those teachers and coaches that you know you can go to if you need to talk about something or get it off your chest," junior guard Tahliya Cuatatl said.

Fellow junior guard Alina Huesca shared how Houston balances the program with a firm but gentle demeanor.

"He's honest and helps us bring out our courage," Huesca said. "He'll joke around and tell you what you're doing wrong but immediately come back and tell you how to fix it."

Sullivan has witnessed Johnson make efforts to make players and students around Lafayette feel safe.

"There were certain points during the season after a game where there was a family emergency and a kid needs a ride home," Sullivan said. "A kid needs a place to sleep for one night. His house is open to them and he's happy to offer up any resource he and Christine can give for the kids in need."

Johnson and Sullivan are in the process of rebuilding the basketball excellence at Lafayette Jeff. The Bronchos won eight IHSAA sectional championships between the 1970s and 1990s while capturing five regional titles in that same period.

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The Bronchos' last sectional title came back in 2009 and they've posted 11 losing seasons since 2010.

Sullivan, who won an NAIA National Championship for current Purdue women's basketball coach Katie Gearlds, is working with Johnson to ensure Lafayette Jeff's return to prominence. Houston carries his own expertise having led the Bronchos to the 2004 sectional title.

The approach to coaching is more holistic for Johnson who acts as the ultimate encourager for students and players.

"He makes the team laugh when practices are hard," Sullivan said. "He hosts campfires at his house for team bonding. He would do anything for the greater good of our program."

Houston walked around the culinary lab carrying a smile on his face. He is a man who has found purpose both as a coach and a teacher. And his energy is having a domino effect on the rest of the students on campus.

"His classroom is a safe space," Cuatahl said. "When I finish my math class and go to his classroom I always feel welcome. He brings a lot of good vibes."

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette Jeff coach SJ Houston creates safe space in cooking class