Mike Houston | |
Current Title: | Head coach |
Current Team: | East Carolina |
Current Conference: | AAC |
Current Record: | 24–34 |
Contract: | $2.52 million[1] |
Birth Date: | 15 November 1971 |
Birth Place: | Franklin, North Carolina, U.S. |
Player Years1: | 1990–1993 |
Player Team1: | Mars Hill |
Player Positions: | Tight end |
Coach Years1: | 1994–1995 |
Coach Team1: | Forbush HS (NC) (DC) |
Coach Years2: | 1996–2000 |
Coach Team2: | T. C. Roberson HS (NC) (DC) |
Coach Years3: | 2001–2005 |
Coach Team3: | T. C. Roberson HS (NC) |
Coach Years4: | 2006 |
Coach Team4: | Brevard (DC) |
Coach Years5: | 2007–2010 |
Coach Team5: | Lenoir–Rhyne (DC) |
Coach Years6: | 2011–2013 |
Coach Team6: | Lenoir–Rhyne |
Coach Years7: | 2014–2015 |
Coach Team7: | The Citadel |
Coach Years8: | 2016–2018 |
Coach Team8: | James Madison |
Coach Years9: | 2019–present |
Coach Team9: | East Carolina |
Overall Record: | 103–57 (college) 42–18 (high school) |
Bowl Record: | 1–0 |
Tournament Record: | 4–2 (Division II) 9–3 (Division I) |
Championships: | 1 NCAA Division I (2016) 3 South Atlantic (2011–2013) 1 SoCon (2015) 2 CAA (2016–2017) |
Awards: | SoCon Coach of the Year: 2015 SAC Coach of the Year: 2011, 2012, 2013 AFCA Region I Coach of the Year: 2015, 2016 AFCA National FCS Coach of the Year: 2016 CAA Coach of the Year: 2016 ECAC Bob Ford FCS Coach of the Year: 2016 |
Michael Glenn Houston (born November 14, 1971) is an American football coach who currently serves as head coach at East Carolina University. He previously won the 2016 FCS championship during his time as the head coach of James Madison. Houston has also served as the head coach of Lenoir–Rhyne and The Citadel.
Houston played as a tight end at Mars Hill, where he earned a degree in biology in 1994.
Houston began his coaching career that fall as defensive coordinator at Forbush High School in East Bend, North Carolina, where he remained for two seasons. He moved to the same position at T. C. Roberson High School in Asheville, North Carolina. After five seasons, he was elevated to the head coaching position. In his five years as head coach, he compiled a record of 42–18, including a 5–4 playoff record, and earned the 2002 and 2004 Asheville Citizen-Times Area Coach of the Year awards. In 2004, his team finished the regular season undefeated, falling in the state semifinals and winning the first conference championship in school history. He also served as an assistant coach for the North Carolina team in the 2005 Shrine Bowl, helping lead them to a victory over South Carolina's squad.
In 2006, Houston moved to the college ranks, serving as defensive coordinator and associate head coach at Brevard in their first season of football in 56 years. The Tornados won two games while starting a roster entirely composed of true freshmen.
In 2007, Houston became defensive coordinator at Lenoir–Rhyne. In his final season as defensive coordinator, the Bears defense led the South Atlantic Conference in total defense and were fourth in the nation in rushing defense. He was named head coach prior to the 2011 season. In his first season, the Bears finished 7–3, shared the conference title, and earned Houston Coach of the Year honors. The next season, he led the Bears to the Division II playoffs and their first playoff win since 1962 and again earned Coach of the Year honors. In his third and final season, the Bears reached the national championship game, falling 43–28 to undefeated Northwest Missouri State. Houston again was named SAC Coach of the Year and drew interest from several larger programs, as the Bears set an NCAA all-division rushing record.[2]
Houston was hired as the 24th head coach at The Citadel in January 2014.[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] After a 5–7 opening season, he led the 2015 Bulldogs to their first conference championship since 1992, and only third in program history. They also made their first playoff appearance in 23 years. For his efforts, Houston was named Southern Conference Coach of the Year.[9]
On January 18, 2016, Houston was named as head coach of the Dukes football program. Houston had a successful tenure as head coach of the Dukes as he led them to three NCS Playoff appearances and two national title game appearances. In 2016 Houston guided the Dukes to a 14–1 record and the 2016 NCAA Division I FCS Football Championship following a 28–14 win over No. 13 Youngstown State. In 2017, Houston led JMU to a 14–1 record and an appearance in the national title game where the Dukes had their only loss of the season as they were beaten by North Dakota State 17–13.
Houston became the Pirates' 22nd head coach on December 4, 2018. Houston, along with his assembled coaching staff, were responsible for turning around an ECU football program with five consecutive losing seasons dating back to 2015. Houston led the Pirates to their first winning season in six years in 2021, finishing at a 7–5 record. Houston made his first FBS bowl game (Military Bowl) in 2021 against Boston College. Due to COVID-19 protocols, Boston College had to back out of the game so it became a no-contest. Houston and staff led the 2022 ECU football team to a 8–5 record and a victory in the Birmingham Bowl against Coastal Carolina University.[10]