ECU Announces Leadership Change In Football

GREENVILLE, NC. – ECU Director of Athletics Jon Gilbert announced today that a leadership change would be made in the Pirates football program with head coach Mike Houston.

"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."

Defensive coordinator Blake Harrell has been named interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

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