After spending two years working in the ticket office, he began teaching journalism classes to young Auburn students.
Housel is a past president of the SEC SID's, and a former chair of the NCAA Public Relations and Communications committees.
He worked 18 straight Final Fours and served on the Media Coordination Committee from 1983 through 1994 when he was named athletic director.
Auburn Athletics also experienced unprecedented facilities enhancements during that time as well, including but not limited to the construction of Samford Stadium-Hitchcock Field at Plainsman Park, Jane B. Moore Field, the McWhorter Center for Women’s Athletics and the James T. Tatum Strength and Conditioning Center.
He was presented with the 2011 Coach Jack Meagher Award at Auburn University, an award is presented annually, “to a person with Auburn University affiliation who made significant contributions to society through athletics.” He is also a past recipient of the Walter Camp Football Foundation Distinguished Service Award, and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame honored him as a Distinguished Alabama Sportsman.