ECU head coach hot board: Top candidates to replace Mike Houston

East Carolina fired head coach Mike Houston on Sunday morning coming off a 45-28 loss to Army on Saturday. Houston went 27-38 in six seasons with the Pirates. After bowl appearances in 2021 and 2022, the Pirates have won just five games in 2023 and 2024.

So who will ECU hire? On3 spoke with multiple sources Sunday morning to build a list of candidates. The American Athletic Conference offers a road to the 12-team College Football Playoff. Houston was making $2.4 million annually, making it an attractive job.

Let’s look at the top candidates:

Joe Sloan, LSU offensive coordinator

The 37-year-old graduated from East Carolina in 2008. A former backup quarterback for the Pirates, he got his coaching start as an administrative assistant with an emphasis on recruiting in Greenville. In his third season at LSU and his first with playcalling duties for the Tigers, Joe Sloan helped Jayden Daniels win the Heisman Trophy in 2023. LSU ranks No. 25 in the nation in total offense and quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has thrown for 2,222 yards this season. Is he ready for a head coaching job?

Tre Lamb, East Tennessee

After winning two consecutive conference titles at Gardner–Webb, Tre Lamb took on the East Tennessee job last offseason. The Buccaneers are currently 4-3 and dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The 35-year-old head coach does not have coaching experience at the FBS level but has a proven track record of a high-scoring offense. Lamb’s air raid offense led the Big South in total points scored (418) and total offense (441.5) in 2022.

Garrett Riley, Clemson offensive coordinator

The former ECU wide receiver coach is now at the helm of Clemson’s offense, which is No. 7 in the country in total offense averaging 490.4 yards per game. Garrett and Lincoln Riley were both on Ruffin McNeill’s ECU staff in the 2010s. Garrett Riley has previously made offensive coordinator stops at SMU and TCU. The 35-year-old offensive coordinator does not have head coaching experience but is familiar with the program and standard.

Tim Banks, Tennessee defensive coordinator

Tim Banks is the defensive coordinator of the year to this point in the 2024 season. The Volunteers rank No. 4 in the nation in total defense, allowing only 259.0 yards per game. They still haven’t allowed an opponent to score 20 points. Tennessee has forced turnovers inside its 5-yard line the last two weeks, too. ECU athletic director Jon Gilbert was an executive associate athletic director at Tennessee before taking the Southern Miss job. Could he hand the keys to one of the hottest coordinators in the country?

Tony Gibson, NC State defensive coordinator

The former West Virginia and Michigan assistant is in his sixth year at NC State. A nominee for the 2021 Broyles Award, Tony Gibson’s defenses have been one of the best in college football in recent years. The Wolfpack have ranked in the top 30 in total defense in the last three seasons. With experience recruiting in the Carolinas, is this his chance to land a head coaching job?

Scott Abell, Davidson

Scott Abell has led Davidson to three FCS playoff appearances in the last six seasons. During the 2023 campaign, the Wildcats won seven straight games by an average margin of 26.9 points per game. Davidson is currently 5-2 this season. Abell has head coaching experience with a recruiting profile in the Carolinas.

Bryant Vincent, Louisiana Monroe

Bryant Vincent led UAB to a 7-6 record as an interim coach in 2022 but did not get the interim tag removed, picked over Trent Dilfer who is now 5-14 in two seasons with the Blazers. Meanwhile, Vincent has Louisiana Monroe at 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the Sun Belt, the best start since 1987. Picked to finish last in the Sun Belt’s West Division, they’ve only finished with a winning record once in the last 30 years.

Bill Clark, former UAB head coach

Vincent’s former boss at UAB, Bill Clark retired ahead of the 2022 season due to back problems. Sources tell On3 that Clark is healthy and wants to get back into the game. In six seasons with the Blazers, he was 49–26 with five bowl appearances. Is ECU the right fit for Clark to return to college football?