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Well that was quick! Just a few days after letting go Scottie Montgomery, ECU has hired Mike Houston as its new head football coach. The hire was approved on Monday by the ECU Board of Trustees and an official press conference to welcome Houston will be held at 2:00 p.m.

ECU also hired their new athletic director Jon Gilbert who hired Houston.

“I am so pleased to welcome Mike Houston, his wife, Amanda and their two boys to the East Carolina family,” Gilbert said in a news release. “Mike has worked his way up the coaching ranks and has a track record of success at every program he has led.”

According to WNCT, ECU will pay James Madison $500,000 to buy Houston of his contract at JMU.

Houston’s acceptance of the ECU position officially ends a three-year tenure as the Dukes’ head coach. Houston guided JMU to a 37-6 three-year record, which included three NCAA FCS postseason appearances (2016 National Champions, 2017 National Runner-Up, 2018 second round) and a pair of Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championships.

“I’m delighted Coach Houston is joining Pirate Nation,” ECU Chancellor Cecil Staton said. “He brings a winning tradition and high expectations, and we look forward to the coach and his team getting to work.”

Both Houston and Gilbert agreed to five-year deals with the ECU.

Welcome to both Houston and Gilbert!

Written by Clarke Jones