East Carolina University is charting a new course for its football program with the firing of head coach Mike Houston, as announced on Sunday. Houston, who took the reins in 2019, was in his sixth season leading the team.
Blake Harrell, ECU’s defensive coordinator since 2020, will step in as the interim head coach for the rest of the season.
Houston’s contract, which ran through 2026 and paid him $2.3 million annually, had been extended by three years in 2021, making it a five-year deal.
Houston inherited a rebuilding program and faced tough early seasons, going 4-8 in 2019 and 3-6 in 2020. However, the Pirates made significant progress in 2021, finishing with a 7-5 record and earning a spot in the Military Bowl, which was later canceled. The following year, they improved further, going 8-5 and winning the Birmingham Bowl over Coastal Carolina.
But after the departure of longtime quarterback Holton Ahlers, 2023 proved challenging. The team ended the season with a disappointing 2-10 record. Despite efforts to strengthen the team, including a coaching change with offensive coordinator Donnie Kirkpatrick being replaced by John David Baker from Ole Miss and several key transfers, including quarterbacks Jake Garcia and Katin Houser, the season faltered.
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East Carolina started the season 2-0 but struggled with tough losses to Appalachian State and Liberty, leading to increased criticism of Houston’s performance. The season saw further setbacks, including a crushing 55-24 defeat to Charlotte in Week 6.
One of Houston’s most notable challenges was his inability to win against in-state opponents, finishing with a 0-7 record against North Carolina FBS teams during his tenure. Overall, Houston’s record stands at 27-38 in six seasons, with a 15-28 mark in American Athletic Conference play.
