ECU football coaching search 2024: Candidates, hot board, names to watch by Pirates insiders

The 247Sports team just revealed their top candidates to replace Mike Houston at East Carolina

In 2022, the East Carolina Pirates went 8-5 and won the Birmingham Bowl as the football program appeared to be on an upswing under coach Mike Houston. However, ECU football has gone just 5-14 since then, which resulted in Houston being fired this week and the search for the next ECU football coach beginning. Blake Harrell, who is the team's defensive coordinator but has not been a head coach at any level, will serve as the interim, but ECU Pirates fans and alums are wondering who will be the next person patrolling the sidelines full-time for East Carolina football.

This is a program in which Hall of Fame coach Pat Dye once led, and it's in a hotbed of talent in the Carolinas, so it appears to be one of the top mid-major openings in college football. However, ECU football has had just two winning seasons over the last decade and only one bowl game appearance. Playing in a reshuffled AAC that has seen half of its school membership turn over since 2023, ECU could be well-positioned to solidify itself as one of the top Group of Five programs, provided it gets the right head coach. If you love the Pirates, or just want to know who will call the shots for ECU football in the future, be sure to see what the proven team of insiders are saying at HoistTheColours, the 247Sports affiliate that covers East Carolina. 

HoistTheColours' ECU insiders are providing on-the-ground updates on every development surrounding Houston's firing and the future of the ECU football program, including insights from Stephen Igoe, who has deep-rooted ties inside and around the ECU community, as well as analysis from national analysts such as Brad Crawford. Get all the inside scoop on the football program, plus VIP intel on ECU football, basketball, recruiting and more, as well as access to the Crow's Nest VIP forum, where you can connect with other ECU fans and insiders.

And right now, HoistTheColours is offering 50% off annual subscriptions*, so now is the time to sign up. The team at HoistTheColours already has a list out of several potential candidates and there are some surprising names on the list. Head to HoistTheColours now to see them all.

Top East Carolina football coach candidates

One name the staff has identified as a potential target is LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan. He was a backup quarterback at ECU from 2004-07, where he shared a backfield with 2,000-yard NFL rusher Chris Johnson. However, Sloan is best known for the work he's done at LSU over the last few years. As the Tigers' quarterbacks coach last year, he helped guide Jayden Daniels to the Heisman trophy and one of the most productive seasons in college football history, and he then added the title of offensive coordinator this year for LSU.

Even with Daniels off to the NFL, and despite losing two wideouts to the first round of the draft, Sloan has LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier leading the SEC with 18 passing touchdowns. Prior to LSU, he spent nine years serving various offensive roles with Louisiana Tech, where he helped the Bulldogs reach seven bowl games and win Conference USA twice. He's also shown his chops in terms of recruiting, as while La. Tech OC in 2020, he helped the program land the No. 1 incoming class in CUSA. Given his recent success at multiple locations, and ties to the ECU football program, Sloan is certainly a name to keep in mind for the East Carolina coaching job. See more candidates at HoistTheColours.

How to get insider ECU coaching staff search updates 

The rest of the list includes several other coaches with ties to ECU, including an NFL assistant and another program legend. You can only see who they are at HoistTheColours.

Who are the top names in the ECU football coaching search, and what program legend could return? Go to HoistTheColours to see their ECU coaching hot board and more, all from a team of ECU and college football insiders, and find out. 

And reminder, HoistTheColours is offering 50% off an annual VIP membership as a coaching search special, so subscribe now before it's too late.

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