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Report: JMU Tabs Mike Houston (UPDATED)

UPDATE (5:09 p.m.): Footballscoop is reporting that Houston to JMU is a "done deal."

UPDATE: Footballscoop is now reporting that former UNLV and Montana coach Bobby Hauck remains in the process, along with Houston.

Monday afternoon, a source said that "it won't be long" until an announcement is made.

A source said former James Madison offensive coordinator Jeff Durden -- now the offensive coordinator at Chattanooga -- was also on campus today.

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Mike Houston is expected to accept an offer to become James Madison’s new head football coach, Footballscoop.com reported Monday.

Houston led The Citadel to a 9-4 record in 2015 and a 6-1 mark in the FCS Southern Conference. The Bulldogs won a share of the conference title and qualified for the playoffs, making their first postseason appearance in 23 years. Houston was named Southern Conference Coach of the Year.

Houston would replace Everett Withers, who left this month to take over at Texas State, an FBS team in the Sun Belt Conference. Withers spent two seasons at Madison and compiled an 18-7 record, going 0-2 in the FCS playoffs.

The Citadel has amassed a record of 14-11 over Houston’s two seasons. In five seasons at Division II Lenoir-Rhyne (2011-13) and The Citadel, Houston is 43-19 as a head coach.

It’s unclear whether Houston will bring his offensive coordinator – Brent Thompson – with him to JMU. Thompson ran the triple-option at The Citadel with great success. The Bulldogs finished 29th in FCS in total offense (421.1 yards per game) in 2015. They had the No. 2 rushing offense at 346.9 yards per game.

The Bulldogs ran a 4-2-5 base defense and surrendered 356.2 yards per game, 39th in FCS, in 2015.

A 1994 Mars Hill (N.C.) University graduate, Houston rose through the coaching ranks as a defensive assistant at several North Carolina high schools. He served as defensive coordinator at D-II Brevard College in 2006 before serving as Lenoir-Rhyne’s DC the next season.

The Citadel’s marquee win came on Nov. 21 when the Bulldogs upset Southeastern Conference foe South Carolina, marking just the third time a Southern Conference team has ever defeated an SEC team.

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