Blake Harrell
American football coach (born 1979)
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Blake Harrell (born October 20, 1979) is an American football coach who is currently the head coach at East Carolina University.
ECU head coach Blake Harrell in 2025 | |
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Team | East Carolina |
| Conference | American |
| Record | 14–5 |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | October 20, 1979 |
| Alma mater | Western Carolina University (2002) Lenoir–Rhyne University |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2001–2002 | Western Carolina (SA) |
| 2003 | McDowell HS (NC) (asst.) |
| 2004 | Fuquay-Varina HS (NC) (DC) |
| 2005 | Franklin HS (NC) (DB) |
| 2006 | Franklin HS (NC) (DC) |
| 2007–2013 | Lenoir–Rhyne (DC/ST/LB/RC) |
| 2014–2018 | The Citadel (DC/LB) |
| 2019 | Kennesaw State (DC/LB) |
| 2020–2024 | East Carolina (DC/ILB) |
| 2024–present | East Carolina |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 14–5 |
| Bowls | 2–0 |
Coaching career
From 2001 through 2019, Harrell had various coaching positions as an assistant coach at Western Carolina, McDowell High School, Fuquay-Varina High School, Franklin High School, Lenoir-Rhyne, The Citadel, and Kennesaw State.[1][2][3] On January 28, 2020, Harrell was hired by the East Carolina Pirates as the team's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.[4] On October 20, 2024, After former East Carolina head coach Mike Houston was fired, Harrell was named the team's interim head coach.[5][6] Following a 4–0 start, East Carolina made Harrell the permanent head coach.[7]
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Carolina Pirates (American Athletic Conference / American Conference) (2024–present) | |||||||||
| 2024 | East Carolina | 5–1[a] | 4–1 | 5th | W Military | ||||
| 2025 | East Carolina | 9–4 | 6–2 | T–4th | W Military | ||||
| East Carolina: | 14–5 | 10–3 | |||||||
| Total: | 14–5 | ||||||||
- Harrell became interim head coach after Mike Houston's firing following week 7.
