Mike Houston

Education

In 2004, his team finished the regular season undefeated, falling in the state semifinals and winning the first conference championship in school history.

Career

He was named to that position after the 2015 season. 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 Therapeutic Community Roberson High School in Asheville, North Carolina.

After six seasons, he was elevated to the head coaching position. 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.

The next season, Houston became Defensive Coordinator at Lenoir–Rhyne. In his final season as District of Columbia, 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 third and final season, the Bears reached the national championship game, falling 43–28 to undefeated Northwest Missouri State. Houston was hired as the 24th head coach at The Citadel in January 2014. After a 5–7 opening season, he led the 2015 Bulldogs to their first conference championship since 1992, and only third in program history.

They also made their first playoff appearance in 23 years.

Achievements

• 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. The Tornados won two games while starting a roster entirely composed of true freshmen. 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. Houston again was named SAC Coach of the Year and drew interest from several larger programs, as the Bears set an National Collegiate Athletic Association all-division rushing record. Foreign his efforts, Houston was named Southern Conference Coach of the Year.