Housel graduated from
Auburn University in 1969 with a degree in journalism. He was news editor of
The Huntsville News 1969–70, returning to Auburn as an administrative assistant in the athletic department ticket office 1970–72. He was an instructor in journalism at Auburn University and advisor to
The Plainsman 1972-80. He became Assistant Sports Information Director under Buddy Davidson on July 1, 1980, and when Davidson relinquished in 1981, Housel was named sports information director. In April 1994 Housel was named athletic director, a position held until January 2005. Today, he is regarded as the unofficial historian of
Auburn University. 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. He has also served on the District III Postgraduate Scholarship Committee, and has served as chair of the Dean's Council for Auburn's College of Liberal Arts. Housel was also a member of the NCAA Championships Cabinet and the executive committee of the Southeastern Conference. Auburn won more than 30 Southeastern Conference titles during Housel’s tenure as AD, and an average of 14 Auburn teams a year advanced to post-season play during that span. 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. ==Personal life==