GREENVILLE – In a move that signals continuity and promise, East Carolina University has transformed Blake Harrell's interim leadership into a permanent appointment, crowning him as the 23rd head football coach of the Pirates program.

Harrell's journey to this moment is a testament to leadership and performance. After taking over as interim head coach on October 20, he orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, guiding the Pirates to four consecutive victories and securing bowl eligibility. The team's offensive explosion during this stretch – scoring 183 points and amassing 2,140 total yards – spoke volumes about Harrell's strategic acumen.

With a defensive background that includes successful tenures at Lenoir-Rhyne, Kennesaw State, and The Citadel, Harrell brings a proven track record of defensive excellence. His defensive units have consistently ranked among the top in their conferences, highlighting his ability to build competitive, disciplined teams.

Athletic Director Jon Gilbert's confidence in Harrell is palpable. "He excelled in all areas," Gilbert noted, praising the coach's dedication, communication skills, and ability to connect with players. Harrell's vision extends beyond the field, with a commitment to navigating the evolving landscape of college athletics, including Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities.

For Harrell, the appointment is more than a professional milestone. "Pirate Nation is second to none," he said, emphasizing his family's commitment to Greenville and the program's future.

As the Pirates prepare for their upcoming bowl game, all eyes are on Harrell – a coach who has transformed an interim opportunity into a definitive leadership role.

GREENVILLE – East Carolina quarterback Katin Houser threw for a career-high 343 yards and five touchdowns as the Pirates dominated Florida Atlantic 49-14 in a Thursday night American Athletic Conference matchup at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

The Pirates (5-4, 3-2 AAC) wasted no time getting started, scoring on their opening drive when Houser connected with Chase Sowell for a 50-yard touchdown just 24 seconds into the game. That quick strike set the tone for what would become ECU’s most productive offensive performance of the season, as they accumulated 581 total yards.

“We got off to a great start putting points up early,” said ECU interim head coach Blake Harrell, who improved to 2-0 since taking over the program on October 20. “The offense and Katin, those guys are clicking over there right now. I’m so proud of them and it’s not just Katin or one player. It’s receivers, running backs, O-line, quarterback, all on the same page and having the same mindset.”

Houser continued his hot streak by finding Winston Wright Jr. for two first-quarter touchdown passes of 47 and 8 yards, helping the Pirates build a 21-0 lead. The junior quarterback has now thrown 10 touchdowns in his last two games and added a 35-yard rushing touchdown before halftime.

East Carolina’s offensive explosion included 418 first-half yards, their highest total in a half since September 2014 against North Carolina. Anthony Smith had a career night with 120 receiving yards on just three catches, including a 64-yard reception and a touchdown. It marked Smith’s second consecutive game with over 100 receiving yards.

The Pirates’ ground game complemented the aerial attack effectively, with Jhari Patterson leading the way with a career-best 61 yards on three carries. Rahjai Harris added 55 yards and a touchdown on eight attempts as ECU averaged 7 yards per rush.

Florida Atlantic (2-7, 0-5 AAC) struggled to contain ECU’s offense throughout the night, though they did manage two second-half scoring drives. The Owls’ touchdowns came on a 2-yard pass from Kasen Weisman to Jabari Smith in the second quarter and another 2-yard touchdown pass to CJ Campbell, Jr. late in the fourth quarter.

The Pirates’ defense continued its opportunistic play, forcing two interceptions. Ja’Marley Riddle recorded his third pick in the last two games, while Gavin Gibson added another interception. Linebacker Zakye Barker led the defensive effort with eight tackles, including 2.5 for loss.

Under the lights at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, a crowd of 30,573 watched as ECU improved to 4-1 at home this season. The strong fan turnout didn’t go unnoticed by Harrell.

“For our student section to show out like that, for Pirate Nation to show out like that for an ESPN nationally televised game — that was freaking awesome and our kids fed off of that,” Harrell said. “They love playing here and playing in front of Pirate Nation.”

The victory puts East Carolina one win away from bowl eligibility with three games remaining. The Pirates will look to secure that crucial sixth win next Thursday when they travel to face Tulsa.

“These guys are playing with confidence and to get these seniors to a bowl game, the way they’ve worked — it’s easy in life when things don’t go right to give up or turn away. These young men are going to finish what they started,” Harrell said. “I told them during the bye week that it’s the fourth quarter. It’s no quarter time. It’s time to go finish this thing off the right way.”

The win marked East Carolina’s third all-time victory over Florida Atlantic and improved their record to 2-0 against the Owls in Greenville. The Pirates have now forced at least one turnover in 46 of their last 52 games, continuing a trend of defensive opportunism that has helped fuel their success this season.

GREENVILLE – In a significant shake-up for the East Carolina football program, Director of Athletics Jon Gilbert announced today the dismissal of head coach Mike Houston. This decision follows a thorough evaluation of the team's recent performance, which has not met the expectations of the university's administration or its passionate fan base.

"After a comprehensive evaluation of our football program, I informed Mike Houston this morning that we are making a change in leadership," Gilbert stated. "This was a very difficult decision. Mike has led our program for 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."

Houston, who took the helm of the Pirates in December 2018, compiled a record of 27-38 during his tenure. His time at ECU was marked by moments of hope, including consecutive bowl game appearances, yet recent seasons have failed to live up to the lofty goals set by the university.

Prior to his appointment at ECU, Houston built a strong resume at James Madison University, where he led the Dukes to a remarkable 37-6 record, including an NCAA FCS national championship in 2016. His leadership there earned him the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS National Coach of the Year award.

Gilbert expressed optimism about the future, underscoring the attractive aspects of the ECU coaching position. "We are confident we will identify the right leader for our football program. ECU is a premier job with a passionate fan base, unprecedented support from our Pirate Club donors, and great facilities that continue to improve."

As the Pirates prepare for their final five regular season games, Gilbert emphasized the importance of supporting the student-athletes during this transition. "Right now, we are focusing on our student-athletes as they compete for a postseason opportunity. I hope Pirate Nation will rally around them as they always have."

To guide the team through the remainder of the season, defensive coordinator Blake Harrell has been named interim head coach. Harrell, who joined the program in 2020, will look to provide stability as ECU embarks on a search for a new head coach.

As the Pirates look ahead, this leadership change marks a pivotal moment in ECU football's quest for renewed success. With strong backing from the administration and an engaged fan base, the program aims to chart a new course under fresh leadership.

CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte 49ers secured their most decisive conference win in program history Saturday, defeating East Carolina 55-24 at Jerry Richardson Stadium in front of 17,102 fans.

The 49ers’ offense operated with precision from the start, opening with back-to-back touchdown drives for the first time under head coach Biff Poggi. Running back Cartevious Norton scored on an 11-yard rush, followed by Deshawn Purdie’s 1-yard touchdown run to give Charlotte an early 14-0 lead.

East Carolina responded with a 38-yard field goal by Noah Perez, but struggled to match Charlotte’s offensive output throughout the game. The Pirates did show signs of life in the second quarter when quarterback Jake Garcia connected with Tyler Savage for a 13-yard touchdown, Savage’s first career score.

Charlotte’s ground game proved unstoppable, with the 49ers rushing for six touchdowns, tying a program record set in 2013 against Morehead State. Hahsaun Wilson led the charge with 164 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns, while Norton added 88 yards and two scores.

Charlotte's Hahsaun Wilson scores one of his three touchdowns Photo Credit: Ed Conway

The 49ers’ quarterback Deshawn Purdie had his most productive game of the season, throwing for a career-high 206 yards. Purdie effectively utilized his receivers, connecting with Jairus Mack for gains of 32 and 23 yards to set up scoring opportunities.

Charlotte’s defense matched the offense’s intensity. Elijah Culp intercepted Garcia in the second quarter, leading to a Wilson touchdown that extended the lead. The defensive highlight came in the fourth quarter when Stone Handy returned an interception 53 yards for a touchdown, the third-longest interception return in program history and the longest ever by a Charlotte defensive lineman.

The Pirates’ offense showed occasional flashes, particularly in the run game. London Montgomery broke free for a 48-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, finishing with a team-high 56 yards on just three carries. Chase Sowell led East Carolina’s receivers with 82 yards on four receptions.

East Carolina’s special teams provided a bright spot late in the game when Winston Wright Jr. returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Wright finished the game with 161 all-purpose yards.

Charlotte’s Stephen Rusnak had a notable performance, scoring 13 points on two field goals and seven extra points, the second-highest point total for a kicker in program history.

The victory marked several milestones for Charlotte. The 55 points scored were the most under Coach Poggi and the fifth-highest in program history. The 31-point margin of victory ranks as the second-largest against a conference opponent. The win also gave Charlotte its first 2-0 start in conference play in program history.

For East Carolina, the loss dropped their record to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play. Head coach Mike Houston’s record against Charlotte fell to 0-2.

Defensively, Charlotte held East Carolina to 343 total yards. The Pirates split quarterback duties, with Jake Garcia completing 6 of 8 passes for 111 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while Katin Houser went 11 for 28 for 84 yards and an interception.

The game marked a significant shift in momentum for Charlotte, who had previously relied on comebacks for victories. This time, they controlled the game from start to finish, amassing 517 total yards of offense, including 311 on the ground.

On defense, Charlotte’s pressure was evident, with Lacota Dippre recording his first career sack. The 49ers’ defensive performance was particularly impressive in the first half, holding East Carolina to just 10 points while the offense built a 31-10 lead.

The Pirates’ defense struggled throughout the game, with Ja’Marley Riddle leading the unit with a career-high nine tackles. East Carolina’s defensive line managed only two sacks and five tackles for loss against Charlotte’s efficient offense.

The victory represents a significant step forward for Charlotte’s program under Poggi, demonstrating their ability to compete and win decisively in the American Athletic Conference. For East Carolina, the loss highlights areas needing improvement as they move deeper into their conference schedule.

Up Next

Both teams now enter their scheduled bye week. Charlotte (3-3, 2-0 AAC) will travel to face Navy on October 19, while East Carolina (3-3, 1-1 AAC) will head to West Point to face Army on the same date.

LYNCHBURG, VA – The East Carolina Pirates (2-2) suffered a 35-24 loss to the Liberty Flames (4-0) in a rain-delayed game that stretched into the early hours of Sunday morning at Williams Stadium.

The game, which kicked off at 6:02 p.m. Saturday, was quickly halted due to weather conditions and didn't resume until 10:45 p.m. It finally concluded at 2:00 a.m., making for a marathon evening of football.

East Carolina started strong, racing to a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter. Quarterback Jake Garcia opened the scoring with an 8-yard touchdown run, followed by a 1-yard plunge from Marlon Gunn Jr. Andrew Conrad added a 35-yard field goal to extend the lead.

However, Liberty mounted a comeback, scoring 28 unanswered points to take control of the game. The Pirates managed one more touchdown in the third quarter when Rahjai Harris found the end zone from 2 yards out, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Flames' offensive surge.

Garcia completed 20 of 36 passes for 204 yards but was intercepted once. Chase Sowell led ECU's receivers with 5 catches for 72 yards, including a 42-yard reception in the first quarter. On the ground, Harris led the team with 47 yards on 13 carries.

Defensively, Omar Rogers paced the Pirates with 11 tackles, while Isaiah Brown-Murray recorded his first career interception and forced fumble.

Despite the defeat, ECU maintained its trend of strong starts, outscoring opponents 50-3 in first quarters this season. The Pirates also extended their streak of forcing at least one turnover to 43 of their last 47 games.

The game set an attendance record for Williams Stadium, with 24,076 fans braving the long weather delay to watch the first-ever meeting between these two programs.

Next Week

The loss concludes East Carolina's non-conference schedule. They'll begin American Athletic Conference play next Saturday when they host UTSA at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.