Official announcement from East Carolina University or reputable sports news outlets

East Carolina Fires Mike Houston, First FBS Coach Dismissed in 2024 Season

Oct 20, 2024, 02:43 PM

East Carolina University has fired head football coach Mike Houston after a disappointing start to the season, marking the first in-season head coach firing in the Football Bowl Subdivision this year. Houston, who previously led James Madison University to an FCS national championship with a 37–6 record over three years, had an overall record of 27–38 and a 15–28 record in the American Athletic Conference during his six seasons with the Pirates. The decision comes after ECU, currently holding a 3-4 overall record and 1-2 in the AAC, suffered significant losses, including a 55-24 defeat to Charlotte and a 21-19 loss to Appalachian State. The Pirates have allowed 100 points over the past two games. Defensive coordinator Blake Harrell has been named interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Athletic Director Jon Gilbert stated, "After a comprehensive evaluation of our football program, I informed Mike Houston this morning that we are making a change in leadership. This was a very difficult decision. Mike has led our program the last five plus..." Houston is expected to be owed nearly $2.8 million per his contract.