Eman Naghavi, a former three-time All-Southland Conference selection and assistant coach for Matt Viator at McNeese State, began in 2017 as offensive line coach at ULM. The 2019 campaign marks the 10th season overall that Naghavi and Viator have worked together.
In 2018, ULM finished among the Sun Belt leaders in passing offense (second at 247.5 ypg.) and total offense (414.8 ypg.). The Warhawks also recorded five 200-yard rushing games, including three straight to start the second half of the season. In addition, ULM’s offensive line permitted only 22 sacks – the league’s third-lowest total. The O-line featured two All-Sun Belt Third-Team selections, in right guard T.J. Fiailoa and center Bobby Reynolds.
In 2017, Naghavi developed a nine-man rotation that helped ULM emerge as one of the Sun Belt’s most explosive offensive units. ULM ranked among the conference leaders in total offense (second at 458.2 yards per game), scoring offense (second at 33.9 points per game), passing offense (third at 287.9 ypg.) and rushing offense (fourth at 170.3 ypg.) in 2017. The Warhawks also ranked among the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision leaders in total offense (No. 21), passing offense (No. 24), scoring offense (No. 25) and passing efficiency (No. 29 with a 146.2 rating).
The Warhawks amassed 500 yards total offense or more in five games in 2017: at Louisiana Lafayette (season-high 593), at Texas State (589), at Idaho (509), vs. Appalachian State (569) and vs. Arkansas State (590).
In 2017, ULM produced five 200-yard rushing games, including a season-high 307 yards at South Alabama (41 rushing attempts).
ULM scored 50 or more points in a school single-season record four games in 2017 (previous record: 1992), including its last two home games against Appalachian State (W, 52-45) and Arkansas State (L, 50-67). Earlier last season, ULM scored 50-plus points in back-to-back games (56 at Louisiana Lafayette and 51 vs. Coastal Carolina) for the first time since October 1992 (52 points each vs. Delta State and McNeese State).
Despite attempting 404 passes, ULM allowed just 21 sacks – the third-lowest total in the Sun Belt.
Veteran left guard Frank Sutton, who earned third-team All-Sun Belt honors as a senior, tied for the team lead with 20 knockdowns. He graded a team-best 86 percent for the season and didn’t allow a sack in more than 320 passing plays in 2017.
Naghavi came to ULM following his second stint as an assistant coach at McNeese State, serving as offensive line coach under Viator in 2015 and Lance Guidry in 2016. In January 2016, he added the responsibilities of recruiting coordinator.
In his first season back with the Cowboys, he tutored three linemen who earned All-SLC honors: Quentin Marsh (first team), Ben Jones (second team) and Nick Gorman (honorable mention). In addition, Marsh was named a STATS All-American in 2015.
Naghavi previously spent two years as an offensive line assistant at Texas under head coaches Mack Brown (2013) and Charlie Strong (2014). During his tenure with the Longhorns, he helped develop All-Big 12 linemen Trey Hopkins (first team) and Donald Hawkins (second team) in 2013 while also working with the tight ends.
A native of Katy, Texas, Naghavi was a member of Viator’s coaching staff at McNeese in 2011-12, working with the offensive tackles and tight ends. Both seasons, the Cowboys ranked second in the Southland Conference in rushing offense.
During his first two seasons as an assistant coach with the Cowboys, Naghavi helped mentor four all-conference linemen, including Alec Savoie, Arinze Agada, Taylor Johnson and Carson Chaisson. A year later in 2013, Agada was named Southland Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year en route to earning All-America honors.
Naghavi played for the Cowboys from 2005-08 and helped lead the Pokes to an undefeated regular season in 2007 while winning the Southland Conference Championship.
During his four years on the offensive line, McNeese led the league in rushing offense twice (2007-08), total offense twice (2007-08) and scoring offense three times (2006-08).
A three-time All-Southland Conference selection, Naghavi earned first-team honors in 2007 and 2008 and second-team recognition in 2006. He also was named All-Louisiana by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association and Associated Press and Sports Network All-American in 2008.
He was a three-time All-Southland Conference recipient, earning first team honors in 2007 and 2008, and second team accolades in 2006. Naghavi also garnered all-Louisiana honors in 2008 and was named a 2008 All-American by the Associated Press and the Sports Network. In addition, he became a two-time SLC All-Academic selection (2007-08).
Naghavi earned his bachelor’s in business administration in 2008 and master’s in exercise physiology in 2012, both from McNeese State.
Naghavi and his wife Julie along with daughters, Austin and Ryan, reside in Monroe.
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