There have been 23 head coaches for the East Carolina Pirates. East Carolina started organized football with the nickname Teachers, in 1932. The school changed the nickname to the Pirates on February 26, 1934.
East Carolina has played in more than 800 games in a total of 84 seasons, 42 of which are in Division I-A.Before 1973, Division 1 was referred to as NCAA University Division (Major College) From 1973 to 1977, this division was refer to as NCAA Division I. From 1978 to 2006, this division is referred to as NCAA Division I-A. 2006, the NCAA changed the name from Division I to Football Bowl Subdivision. In those games, seven coaches have brought the Pirates to bowl games: Jack Boone in 1952 and 1954, Clarence Stasavich in 1963, 1964 and 1965, Pat Dye in 1978, Bill Lewis in 1991, Steve Logan in 1994, 1995, 1999, 2000 and 2001, Skip Holtz in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, and Ruffin McNeill in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Five coaches have won conference championships with the Pirates: Jack Boone in 1953, Clarence Stasavich in 1966, Sonny Randle in 1972 and 1973, Pat Dye in 1976, and Skip Holtz in 2008 and 2009. Steve Logan is the all-time leader in games coached, years coached, and wins, while John Christenbury leads all coaches in winning percentage with 0.867. O. A. Hankner is statistically the worst coach the Pirates have had in terms of winning percentage, with .000.
Of the 22 Pirate coaches, Mike McGee and Pat Dye have been inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame. Two coaches, Clarence Stasavich and Bill Lewis, have received National Coach of the Year honors. Three former players have been head coach for the Pirates: Jim Johnson, Ed Emory and Ruffin McNeill. In addition, former players have become Pirate assistant coaches, such as Junior Smith and Paul Troth. The current coach is Blake Harrell. Statistics correct as of December 3, 2021, after the end of the 2021–22 college football season. East Carolina changed from East Carolina Teachers College to East Carolina College in 1951 and to East Carolina University in 1967.
Key
#Number of coachesA running total of the number of coaches of the Pirates.GCGames CoachedWWinsLLosesTTiesW–L %Win–loss percentage
Coaches
# Name Term Regular season Postseason Awards GC W L T W–L % GC W LEast Carolina Teachers College Teachers1Kenneth Beatty*1932–19331111000.091––––East Carolina Teachers College Pirates2G.L. "Doc" Mathis*1934–1935124710.375––––3Bo Farley*193653200.600––––4J. D. Alexander1937–19381531110.233––––5O. A. Hankner*193980800.000––––6John Christenbury*1940–19411512300.800––––7Jim Johnson*1946–19482781810.315––––East Carolina College Pirates8Bill Dole1949–195130151410.517––––9Jack Boone*1952–196197494350.520202–East Carolina University Pirates10Clarence Stasavich1962–196975472710.6473301964 NAIA Coach of the Year11Mike McGee^1970113800.273––––12Sonny Randle1971–197332221000.688–––1972 Southern Conference Media Coach-of-the-Year1973 Southern Conference Media Coach-of-the-Year13Pat Dye^1974–197966471810.724110–14Ed Emory*1980–198455262900.473––––15Art Baker1985–198844133100.295––––16Bill Lewis1989–199133211200.6471101991 National Coach-of-the-Year17Steve Logan*1992–2002122675500.543523–18John Thompson*2003–20042332000.130––––19Skip Holtz2005–200961372400.607413–20Ruffin McNeill2010–201559352400.593312–21Scottie Montgomery2016–20183592600.257––––David Blackwell†201810100.00––––22Mike Houston2019–20245824340110–23Blake Harrell2024–Present191450220 -
References General
† The defensive coordinator appointed interim football coach to finish out 2018 year. Specific