East Carolina University announced Sunday that head football coach Mike Houston has been fired.
Houston spent five and a half seasons with the program, compiling a 27-38 overall record. ECU was 3-4 this season, coming off a lopsided 45-28 loss at Army on Saturday.
Houston hails from western North Carolina (Franklin) and has coached at James Madison, The Citadel, Lenoir-Rhyne, Brevard and also Roberson High School.
Blake Harrell, the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, has been named the interim head coach.
Below is the statement released by ECU AD Jon Gilbert earlier today:
Be sure to check back with NC Football News for more updates on this developing story.
“After a comprehensive evaluation of our football program, I informed Mike Houston this morning that we are making a change in leadership,” said Gilbert. “This was a very difficult decision. Mike has led our program the last five plus seasons with tremendous class and has positively impacted so many student-athletes. After earning back-to-back bowl invitations, we looked poised for continued success. 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. My hope is Pirate Nation will rally around our student-athletes like they have always done.”
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