Slade Nagle, a 20-plus year coaching veteran who helped guide Tulane's resurgent offenses across eight seasons and most recently oversaw special teams/tight ends at LSU, has been named University of Houston Football Offensive Coordinator with contract to be presented to the UH System Board of Regents for ratification as its next meeting.

Under Head Coach Willie Fritz, Nagle coached Tulane tight ends from 2016-22 before taking over the reins as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2023.

"Coach Nagle and I share a strong history, having worked together for eight seasons at Tulane," Fritz said. "He played a pivotal role in two of the most successful seasons in Tulane Football's 125-plus-year history between 2022-23 and brings valuable experience recruiting in Texas and Louisiana. We're excited to welcome Slade and his wife, Kirby, to the University of Houston family."

As offensive coordinator in 2023, the Green Wave scored 20+ points in 11 of 12 regular season contests and eclipsed 30 points on six occasions as part of an 11-win regular season and perfect 8-0 mark in American Athletic Conference play. As quarterbacks coach, he tutored signal caller Michael Pratt, who was named American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year after ranking 15th nationally in passing efficiency (158.9), 22nd in points responsible for per game (14.7) and 23rd in yards per pass attempt (8.50).

Following the 2023 season, the Green Wave placed four offensive players on the All-American Athletic Conference First Team. In total, seven Tulane offensive student-athletes earned All-Conference honors following the season, including redshirt freshman running back Makhi Hughes, who was selected as The American's Rookie of the Year.

"I'm excited to be coming aboard," Nagle said. "I have the utmost admiration for Coach Fritz. Coach is a leader, winner and has done it at every level. I've always had respect for Houston having competed against the Cougars for many years and believe the sky is the limit here. I'm looking forward to calling plays once again and supporting this program."

With a focus on being a balanced team in his eight seasons at Tulane, the Green Wave rushed for 21,168 yards and 219 touchdowns, ranking 12th and 15th, respectively, in the country. Tulane topped 5,000 yards of total offense five times (2023, '22, '21, '19, '18) – something the Green Wave accomplished just twice in the preceding 50 years.

In 2024, Nagle's tight ends room played a key role in LSU's offensive prowess which included ranking eighth nationally in passing offense (315.0) and 12th in first downs (286). Under his guidance, LSU junior tight end Mason Taylor topped all SEC tight ends and ranked fourth among Power Four tight ends with 4.6 receptions per game while checking in at ninth among Power Four tight ends with 558 receiving yards.

Prior to Tulane, Nagle served as the running backs coach and special teams coordinator for four seasons at his alma mater, McNeese, and helped the team to a combined record of 33-13, including a pair of 10-win seasons and two Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoff appearances.

During Nagle's final season at McNeese, the Cowboys posted a 10-1 overall record, a perfect 9-0 mark en route to a Southland Conference title and advanced to the FCS Playoffs. McNeese State's rushing attack averaged 233.3 yards per game (2,566 on the year) and accounted for 25 touchdowns. The Cowboys averaged 25.5 yards on kick returns and 10.29 yards on punt returns.

In 2014 under Nagle's tutelage, the Cowboys' running back corps rushed for 2,441 yards and scored 28 touchdowns while marking the second straight season the Cowboys rushed for over 2,400 yards as a unit.

Nagle helped coach McNeese special teams to a record-breaking season in 2013 where the team set a new single-season record with 1,514 kickoff return yards and three KO returns for touchdowns.

A 2001 graduate of McNeese, Nagle played for the Cowboys for three years from 1999-2001, leading the team to two appearances in the NCAA playoffs and to a Southland Conference title. An All-Conference selection during his playing time, he completed his career as the school's seventh ranked performer in total offense (4,977 yards), sixth in passing yardage (4,596), fifth in passes attempted and completed (378 of 653) and fifth in touchdown passes (35). Nagle's career completion percentage of .578 is one of the best in school history. In 2001 he quarterbacked the Cowboys to the SLC title, completing 113 of 198 passes for 1,279 yards and 14 touchdowns. During his career he had a 19-8 won-loss record as the Cowboy starting quarterback.

After graduating from McNeese, Nagle served as graduate assistant coach at Northwestern State (2002-03), as the quarterback coach at Dodge City (Kansas) College (2004-05), as the quarterback and wide receiver coach at Northwestern State (2006-09), as an administrative assistant working with the special teams at LSU (2009), as the co-offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at Texas State (2010) and as the running backs/assistant head coach at Central Arkansas (2011).

Nagle earned All-State and All-District (three times) honors at Barbe High where he set school records for passing.

He signed with Clemson out of high school and played as a freshman before transferring to McNeese. His father, John, is a veteran football coach in the state on the college and high school level.