East Carolina fires head coach Mike Houston

Field Level Media|published: Sun 20th October, 11:42 2024

Sep 14, 2024; Greenville, North Carolina, USA; East Carolina Pirates head coach Mike Houston looks on against the Appalachian State Mountaineers during the first half at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

East Carolina fired coach Mike Houston on Sunday morning, one day after the team lost for the fourth time in five games to drop to 3-4 on the season.

The Pirates allowed Army quarterback Bryson Daily to rush for a career-high five touchdowns in a 45-28 setback to the Black Knights on Saturday.

Houston, 52, has posted a 27-38 record in five-plus seasons with the Pirates. They are 5-14 since picking up a 53-29 win over Coastal Carolina in the 2022 Birmingham Bowl.

"After earning back-to-back bowl invitations, we looked poised for continued success," East Carolina athletic director Jon Gilbert said. "Unfortunately, we have not seen the results we all want, and a change is needed to move the program forward. We have high expectations and those are not changing.

"We are confident we will identify the right leader for our football program. I believe ECU is a premier job with a passionate fan base, unprecedented support from our Pirate Club donors, and great facilities that continue to improve. Right now, we are focusing on our student-athletes as they compete for a postseason opportunity in the final five regular-season games."

Defensive coordinator Blake Harrell will serve as interim head coach of the Pirates for the remainder of the season. East Carolina hosts Temple next Saturday in Greenville, N.C., in American Athletic Conference action.

--Field Level Media

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