The former Norwich City assistant boss was in the stands at Roots Hall to see his new charges make it five wins in six games thanks to an Ian Craney's goal after 49 minutes.
The midfielder netted after Michael Collins sent in a low cross from the left byline and the ball went past a stationary Steve Mildenhall and Craney tapped into the open goal from four yards for his sixth of the season.
Southend should have equalised from the penalty spot eight minutes from time after Kevin Betsy was brought down by Robbie Williams.
But substitute striker James Walker hit a daisycutter of a spot-kick which keeper Alex Smithies easily saved to ensure back-to-back wins for the Terriers.
The first half provided little goalmouth action as both teams struggled to create decent chances.
Huddersfield's five-man midfield made it difficult for Southend to find a route to goal.
Their best openings came early on when Alex Revell's cross-cum-shot was saved by Smithies at the foot of his left post, while Franics Laurent headed over from six yards out from a Betsy cross.
After surviving those early attempts, the Terriers had their hosts on the back foot. Craney capitalised on poor defending by Simon Francis but shot wide when he should have done better.
Williams then beat Francis on the left but saw his shot smothered by goalkeeper Mildenhall at the near post.
Three minutes after the restart Huddersfield were in front. Michael Collins sent in a low cross from the left byline. The ball went past a stationary Mildenhall and Craney tapped into the open goal from four yards.
But the goal brought the Shrimpers back to life and they came close to equalising on the hour when good work by Francis and Betsy on the right teed up Laurent, but the forward saw his shot go inches wide of the left post with Smithies beaten.
Williams fired a 35-yard free-kick straight at Mildenhall, before Smithies denied the Blues an equaliser when he tipped over an Adam Barrett header from Rob Milsom's right-wing free-kick.
However, the Blues' best chance came from the penalty spot, but that went begging with Walker's miss.