GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — ECU Director of Athletics Jon Gilbert announced Sunday that Head Coach Mike Houston was being fired.
“After a comprehensive evaluation of our football program, I informed Mike Houston this morning that we are making a change in leadership,” Gilbert said. “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.”
Gilbert’s statement continued, saying “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.”
Gilbert announced that Defensive Coordinator Blake Harrell has been named the interim head coach for the remainder of this season.
