The 2010 East Carolina Pirates football team represented East Carolina University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Pirates played their home games in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium and were led by head coach Ruffin McNeill, a former Pirate football player and former Texas Tech defensive coordinator. He was in his first year as head coach. They were members of Conference USA After winning consecutive C-USA championships, the Pirates finished the season 6–7, 5–3 in C-USA and were invited to the Military Bowl where they were defeated by Maryland 20–51.