Mike Houston (American football)

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.

Mike Houston
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamEast Carolina
ConferenceAAC
Record7–14
Annual salary$1.425 million [1]
Biographical details
Born (1971-11-15) November 15, 1971
Playing career
1990–1993Mars Hill
Position(s)Tight end
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1994–1995Forbush HS (NC) (DC)
1996–2000T. C. Roberson HS (NC) (DC)
2001–2005T. C. Roberson HS (NC)
2006Brevard (DC)
2007–2010Lenoir–Rhyne (DC)
2011–2013Lenoir–Rhyne
2014–2015The Citadel
2016–2018James Madison
2019–presentEast Carolina
Head coaching record
Overall87–39 (college)
42–18 (high school)
Accomplishments and honors
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

Early life

Houston played as a tight end at Mars Hill, where he earned a degree in Biology in 1994.

Coaching career

Early coaching career

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.[2][3]

Brevard College

In 2006, Houston moved to the Division II 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.

Lenoir-Rhyne

In 2007, Houston became defensive coordinator at Lenoir–Rhyne. In his final season as DC, 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][3][4]

The Citadel

Houston was hired as the 24th head coach at The Citadel in January 2014.[2][5][6][3][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]

James Madison

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.

East Carolina

Houston became the Pirates' 22nd head coach on December 4, 2018.

Head coaching record

College
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs AFCA/STATS# Coaches°
Lenoir–Rhyne Bears (South Atlantic Conference) (2011–2013)
2011 Lenoir–Rhyne 7–36–1T–1st
2012 Lenoir–Rhyne 9–36–11stL NCAA Division II Second Round20
2013 Lenoir–Rhyne 13–27–01stL NCAA Division II Championship2
Lenoir–Rhyne: 29–819–2
The Citadel Bulldogs (Southern Conference) (2014–2015)
2014 The Citadel 5–73–45th
2015 The Citadel 9–46–11stL NCAA Division I Second Round1315
The Citadel: 14–119–5
James Madison Dukes (Colonial Athletic Association) (2016–2018)
2016 James Madison 14–18–01stW NCAA Division I Championship11
2017 James Madison 14–18–01stL NCAA Division I Championship22
2018 James Madison 9–46–22ndL NCAA Division I Second Round910
James Madison: 37–622–2
East Carolina Pirates (American Athletic Conference) (2019–present)
2019 East Carolina 4–81–75th (East)
2020 East Carolina 3–63–5T–8th
East Carolina: 7–144–12
Total:87–39
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
  • #Rankings from final AFCA poll for Lenoir–Rhyne and final STATS poll for The Citadel and James Madison.
  • °Rankings from final FCS Coaches' poll.

References
  1. https://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/salaries/
  2. "Mike Houston". The Citadel Bulldogs. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  3. "Football: Mike Houston". Lenoir–Rhyne Bears. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  4. Matt Osborne (January 10, 2014). "Houston Ready to Lead The Citadel". Southern Pigskin. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  5. Jeff Hartsell (January 7, 2014). "Source: Lenoir-Rhyne's Mike Houston agrees to coach Citadel football". Post and Courier. Charleston, SC. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  6. Jeff Hartsell (January 9, 2014). "New Citadel football coach Mike Houston promises aggressive approach". Post and Courier. Charleston, SC. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  7. "Game Changer: Mike Houston, Lenoir–Rhyne". Asheville, NC: WLOS. December 19, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  8. "Houston chasing a national title". Asheville Citizen-Times. Asheville, NC. December 11, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  9. "2015 Football Awards and All-Conference Announced". Southern Conference. November 24, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
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