Sport(s) | Football |
---|---|
Current position | |
Title | Head coach |
Team | James Madison |
Conference | CAA |
Record | 28–2 |
Biographical details | |
Born | November 15, 1971 |
Alma mater | Mars Hill University |
Playing career | |
1990–1993 | Mars Hill |
Position(s) | Tight end |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1994–1995 | Forbush HS (NC) (DC) |
1996–2000 | T. C. Roberson HS (NC) (DC) |
2001–2005 | T. C. Roberson HS (NC) |
2006 | Brevard (DC) |
2007–2010 | Lenoir–Rhyne (DC) |
2011–2013 | Lenoir–Rhyne |
2014–2015 | The Citadel |
2016–present | James Madison |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 71–21 (college) 42–18 (high school) |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
1 NCAA Division I (2016) 3 South Atlantic (2011–2013) 1 SoCon (2015) 2 CAA (2016–2017) |
|
Awards | |
SoCon Coach of the Year: 2015 SAC Coach of the Year: 2011, 2012, 2013 AFCA Region I Coach of the Year: 2015, 2016 AFCA National FCS Coach of the Year: 2016 CAA Coach of the Year: 2016 ECAC Bob Ford FCS Coach of the Year: 2016 |
Michael Glenn Houston (born November 14, 1971) is an American college football coach, currently serving as head coach of the James Madison Dukes football team. He was named to that position after the 2015 season and subsequently won the 2016 FCS championship against Youngstown State.
Houston played as a tight end at Mars Hill, where he earned a degree in Biology in 1994. He began his coaching career that fall as defensive coordinator at Forbush High School in East Bend, North Carolina, where he remained for two seasons. He moved to the same position at T. C. Roberson High School in Asheville, North Carolina. After six seasons, he was elevated to the head coaching position. In his five years as head coach, he compiled a record of 42–18, including a 5–4 playoff record, and earned the 2002 and 2004 Asheville Citizen-Times Area Coach of the Year awards. In 2004, his team finished the regular season undefeated, falling in the state semifinals and winning the first conference championship in school history. He also served as an assistant coach for the North Carolina team in the 2005 Shrine Bowl, helping lead them to a victory over South Carolina's squad.
In 2006, Houston moved to the Division II college ranks, serving as defensive coordinator and Associate Head Coach at Brevard in their first season of football in 56 years. The Tornados won two games while starting a roster entirely composed of true freshmen. The next season, Houston became defensive coordinator at Lenoir–Rhyne. In his final season as DC, the Bears defense led the South Atlantic Conference in total defense and were fourth in the nation in rushing defense. He was named head coach prior to the 2011 season. In his first season, the Bears finished 7–3, shared the conference title, and earned Houston Coach of the Year honors. The next season, he led the Bears to the Division II playoffs and their first playoff win since 1962 and again earned Coach of the Year honors. In his third and final season, the Bears reached the national championship game, falling 43–28 to undefeated Northwest Missouri State. Houston again was named SAC Coach of the Year and drew interest from several larger programs, as the Bears set an NCAA all-division rushing record.