Slade Nagle

A quarterback, Nagle played one game for the Clemson Tigers as a freshman, rushing for one yard on one carry.^[1] He then transferred to McNeese State University, where he played for the Cowboys from 1999 to 2001.^[2] Nagle led his team to a Southland Conference title as a senior.^[2]

After graduating from McNeese, Nagle served as graduate assistant coach at Northwestern State.^[3][4] He then served in various roles as the quarterback coach at Dodge City Community College, as the quarterback and wide receiver coach at Northwestern State, as an analyst working with the special teams at LSU, as the co-offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at Texas State, and as the running backs/assistant head coach at Central Arkansas.^[4] After coaching at Central Arkansas, Nagle returned to his alma mater, McNeese State, to serve as the running backs and special teams coach.^[3][4] Nagle served in multiple roles at McNeese, including running backs coach and special teams coordinator. During the 2013 season, McNeese’s special teams unit recorded one of the most productive return seasons in school history, including a program-record 1,514 kickoff return yards and three kickoff return touchdowns.^[5] The Cowboys finished the regular season 10–1 and won the Southland Conference championship.^[6]

In 2016, Nagle was hired as a tight ends coach at Tulane before receiving the assistant head coach title in 2022.^[4]

Offensive turnaround at Tulane

Prior to the start of the 2022 season, Nagle was given control of the Green Wave's offense, helping the program improve from a 2–10^[7] record the previous year to a 12–2 record, American Athletic Conference Championship, and Cotton Bowl victory over the #8 ranked University of Southern California.^[8][9] After the conclusion of the 2022 season and seven years as the Green Wave's tight end coach, Nagle was officially promoted to offensive coordinator and transitioned to coach quarterbacks, helping the team to another 10-win season, finishing 11–3.^[10][11][12] On December 3, 2023, after head coach Willie Fritz left to take the head coaching job at the University of Houston, Nagle was named as the team's interim head coach for their appearance in the 2023 Military Bowl.^[13][14]

In 2024, Nagle rejoined the staff at LSU as tight ends coach and special teams coordinator.^[15] Under his guidance, LSU’s tight ends were a productive part of the Tigers’ offense, which ranked among the national leaders in passing offense and first downs. Junior tight end Mason Taylor led all Southeastern Conference tight ends with 4.6 receptions per game, finished among the top Power Four tight ends in receiving yards^[16], and set a LSU single-season record for receptions by a tight end at 55, 37 of which resulted in a first down.^[17] Taylor was later selected in second round of the 2025 NFL Draft^[18], highlighting the development of LSU’s tight end unit during Nagle’s tenure.

Following the 2024 season, Nagle was hired as offensive coordinator at the University of Houston, rejoining Fritz after working together at Tulane.^[16]

Offensive turnaround at Houston

Nagle’s first season as offensive coordinator at Houston was marked by a significant improvement across nearly every major offensive category. The Cougars improved from 128th to 60th nationally in total offense and from 132nd to 55th in scoring offense while also climbing from 119th to 40th in passing efficiency and from 90th to 41st in rushing offense. The offense also improved dramatically in situational efficiency, moving from 133rd to 14th nationally in red-zone offense and from 72nd to 17th in time of possession. ^[19]

Quarterback Conner Weigman produced a breakout season under Nagle, throwing 25 touchdown passes and adding 11 rushing touchdowns, becoming one of only four quarterbacks nationally to record at least 25 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing touchdowns during the season. ^[19]

Houston’s offensive resurgence helped power a six-win improvement from the previous season^[20] and a 38–35 victory over LSU in the Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium in Houston. Weigman threw four touchdown passes, tying the Texas Bowl record, as the Cougars rallied from an early 14–0 deficit to secure the win. Houston finished with 437 yards of total offense compared to LSU’s 344 yards. The victory gave the Cougars a 10–3 record for the season.^[21]

Following the season, Houston rewarded Nagle with a contract extension and salary increase as part of head coach Willie Fritz’s staff retention plan. ^[22]