College Football BREAKING: Head Coach Suddenly Fired Midseason After Loss To Ranked Team

Numerous college football fanbases are eager to move on from their head coaches by mid-October. One program took action and terminated their head coach following a seventh game of the season that resulted in a lopsided defeat to the No. 23 team in the nation.

A college football coach was fired on Sunday

According to a statement released Sunday morning by Eastern Carolina athletic director Jon Gilbert, the university has dismissed head coach Mike Houston following a 3-4 start to the 2024 season.

“After a thorough evaluation of our football program, I informed Mike Houston this morning that we will be making a leadership change,” Gilbert said. “This was a very tough decision. Mike has led our program for over five seasons with great integrity and has had a positive impact on many student-athletes. After securing back-to-back bowl invitations, we anticipated ongoing success. Unfortunately, we haven’t achieved the desired results, and a change is necessary to advance the program. We have high expectations, and they remain unchanged.”

ECU has appointed defensive coordinator Blake Harrell as the interim head coach while they search for a permanent replacement. Harrell has been with ECU as their defensive coordinator since the 2020 season.

A postseason berth is on the line for Eastern Carolina

According to the statement, ECU aims to remain in contention for a bowl bid this season.

“Right now, our focus is on our student-athletes as they vie for a postseason chance in the final five games of the regular season,” Gilbert said. “I hope Pirate Nation will continue to support our athletes, as they always have.”

During his six seasons at ECU, Houston amassed a 27-38 record and led the team to a victory over Coastal Carolina in the 2022 Birmingham Bowl. However, the program faced challenges after the 2022 season.

The Pirates finished the 2023 season with a 2-10 record, with their last victory occurring against UTSA on September 28. They suffered two consecutive losses by a combined score of 100-52, including a defeat against No. 23 Army on Saturday, with a score of 45-28.