FOOTBALL

WNC native Mike Houston is on brink of another football national championship

Tyler Norris Goode
Special to the Citizen Times
Former Roberson coach Mike Houston has James Madison on the brink of its second consecutive FCS championship

To the casual observer, it might appear that James Madison’s 26 consecutive wins and second consecutive appearance in the Football Championship Subivision’s title game almost came effortlessly for the Dukes and coach Mike Houston.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

As the defending national champion and ranked No. 1 in preseason, James Madison had to absorb each opponent’s best shot every week.

And then there’s this:

“We’ve had the (highest) number of injuries this year that I’ve ever had in my career,” said Houston, a Franklin native and Mars Hill grad who’s 28-1 in two seasons at James Madison. “At one point, we had 11 starters out at the same time. Half a dozen are out for the year.”

Things get no easier Saturday for Houston and the Dukes (14-0), who are four-point underdogs (according to VegasInsider.com) against five-time national champion North Dakota State (13-1). The game in Frisco, Texas, is scheduled for a noon kickoff and will be televised live on ESPN2.

“They’ll be highly motivated because we beat them last year (in the semifinals)," Houston said. "Our kids work very hard in preparation, and they’re highly motivated to do something historically that no team has ever done: go 15-0 – all against Division I opponents – and win back-to-back championships. That has not been done.”

Defying the odds has long been a trademark of Houston’s ridiculously successful coaching career. At Roberson High, which historically struggles in football, Houston posted a 42-18 record and led the program to its first conference championship.

After taking Lenoir-Rhyne to three consecutive South Atlantic Conference championships, he transformed oft-struggling The Citadel into a Southern Conference co-champion and playoff qualifier.

And despite James Madison’s uphill battle this season, Houston and his staff have the Dukes riding the longest winning streak in NCAA Division I.

“I’ve had some great opportunities and really good people around me,” Houston said. “We’ve been able to put together rosters of really special kids who work really, really hard and believe in each other. It goes back to the way I was raised and the values I believe in. Those are things that lend themselves to building unified teams that play really well.”

Raised by Bill and Evelyn Houston of Franklin, Houston also credits Franklin resident Fred Goldsmith with helping shape his approach to coaching.

Goldsmith turned around once-dismal football programs at Rice and Duke in the 1990s and later compiled a 47-15 record at Franklin High (2001-05). While head coach at Lenoir-Rhyne in 2007, Goldsmith hired Houston to be his defensive coordinator and eventual successor as head coach.

The two still talk a couple times every week.

“I’m really proud of him because he’s done it the right way,” Goldsmith said. “He has good assistants. The athletic director (Jeff Bourne) is very supportive and has made it possible for him to get and keep good assistants.

“Both coordinators do things that fit in Mike’s philosophy,” Goldsmith continued. “He earns respect from players and coaches wherever he’s been. What you saw him do at Roberson, he’s done at every place he’s been. He’s also been able to put together good depth. He has a great reputation, and the school does, too.”

Houston recently signed a contract extension through 2027 with James Madison. He acknowledged multiple Football Bowl Championship subdivision schools approached him about their vacancies, but he insisted he’s content where he is.

Though there are rumblings that JMU may be considering a move to FBS, Houston said he likes the FCS playoff format and the opportunities it affords member programs.

“This place is very, very special,” Houston said. “Making that transition to FBS means you don’t have this opportunity for historic playoff runs like we’ve had the past couple of years. We’d have the opportunity to compete for a conference championship and the opportunity to play in a bowl game, but that’s a little different animal than what we get to do here. Right now, Georgia, Clemson, Alabama and Oklahoma have had an opportunity to have somewhat of a playoff run like we’re having. That’s only a small percentage. It’s a factor for our fan base and our fan base to consider.

“We’ve played on ESPN four straight weekends, and we’ve had national coverage from the Washington Post, New York Times -- all across the country," Houston added. "It not only brings the spotlight to the football program but more importantly to James Madison University. Applications have skyrocketed the last 1 1/2 years. Enrollment is busting at the seams. … Now if our administration gets the right opportunity with the right conference, and they decide it’s what’s best for our entire institution … they are prepared and would full-throttle and enthusiastically transition, and they would do it in a manner to give us the opportunity to be highly competitive immediately.”

Regardless of where James Madison goes in the future or how high Houston rises in the coaching ranks, he said he’ll always remember his roots.

“I still keep in touch with a lot of very close friends in the Asheville area,” Houston said. “It’s a place that Amanda, my wife, and I will always call home. It’s a very special place to us. No matter where we go, we will never be very far -- at least in our hearts -- from Western North Carolina.”