News & Features

Dave Hart was contracted by Chancellor Cecil Staton in March to conduct an extensive review of East Carolina’s athletic department and formulate a plan to help revitalize the Pirates both financially and on the field of competition. He’s also doubled as an interim athletic director responsible for filling the three most important positions on ECU’s… [ Continue Reading ]

The East Carolina basketball team is in the midst of an extended break. The Pirates downed visiting Maryland Eastern Shore, 70-47, on Dec. 2 and won’t return to action until taking on host Charlotte on Dec.18. “Obviously, we had exams mixed in this deal,” ECU coach Joe Dooley said. “There’s a million things we need… [ Continue Reading ]

As I see it, the perfect antidote for the post-Christmas letdown during the last week of the calendar year is taking in all of the “Year In Review” articles and specials. I never tire of the retrospectives, lists and highlight reels reviewing the year that was. I like those features so much, in fact, that… [ Continue Reading ]

Rock band Thin Lizzy had a hit song in the mid ‘70s with “The Boys are Back in Town.” The band certainly wasn’t talking about coaches returning with the hit, but that’s what it feels like at East Carolina. New ECU coach Mike Houston has made Donnie Kirkpatrick, Steve Shankweiler and Dale Steele part of his… [ Continue Reading ]

Figuratively speaking, East Carolina hit both the PowerBall and MegaMillions jackpots this week with the twin hirings of athletic director Jon Gilbert and football coach Mike Houston. Just three days later, the Pirates came into an actual financial windfall with the announcement of a $20 million cash infusion into the school’s athletic budget. Ten million… [ Continue Reading ]

Dave Hart will leave East Carolina in better shape than he found it earlier this year when he returned to the program as special athletics advisor to Dr. Cecil Staton, ECU chancellor. The Pirate ship has been listing in a sea of red ink. Jeff Compher’s biggest move as athletic director, the firing of Ruffin… [ Continue Reading ]