Eman Naghavi - Football Coach - University of Houston Athletics

Eman Naghavi

Title:
Offensive Line

Eman Naghavi
Hometown	Katy, Texas
College	McNeese State '08
Family	Wife: Julie Daughters: Ryan, Austin & Mason
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Level	School, Position
College	McNeese State (2005-08)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Year	School, Position
2024 -	Houston, Offensive Line
2023	Houston, Run Game Coordinator/OL
2022	Tulane, Offensive Line
2021	Georgia State, Offensive Line
2020	ULM, Offensive Coordinator
2017-19	ULM, Offensive Line
2016	McNeese State, Offensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator
2015	McNeese State, Offensive Line
2013-14	Texas, Offensive Quality Control
2011-12	McNeese State, Offensive Line / Tight Ends
2010	C.E. King HS, Offensive Line
POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE
Year	Bowl, School
2023	Cotton Bowl, Tulane
2021	Camellia Bowl, Georgia State
2014	Texas Bowl, Texas
2013	Alamo Bowl, Texas

Coach Eman Naghavi on X, formerly Twitter

• Houston-area native and college football coaching veteran Eman Naghavi, a 2024 Dave Campbell's Texas Football 40 Under 40 recipient, joined University of Houston Football on Jan. 28, 2023. The 2025 season will be his third at Houston and 15th coaching collegiate football.

• In 2024, Naghavi (pronounced ee-MAHN nuh-GAH-vee) reunited with Head Coach Willie Fritz, serving as offensive line coach for the second straight season with the Cougars. The Katy, Texas, native guided an offensive line which returned just one starter for the first time in at least 20 years.

• The 2024 Cougars were led by Peyton Dunn's 85.9 pass-block grade (PFF) which ranked fourth among Big 12 guards. Dunn did not permit a quarterback hit in 11 of 12 games. Starting left tackle David Ndukwe permitted just one sack in 227 opportunities. Jake Wiley, who started all 12 games at right tackle, did not allow a quarterback hit until final game of season and committed no penalties in 11 of 12 games.

• Naghavi's 2023 unit was led by left tackle Patrick Paul who earned Second Team All-America honors by The Athletic after leading the nation with a 92.8 pass block grade according to PFF. Paul, who became Houston's first First Team All-Big 12 honoree, did not permit a sack alongside just one quarterback hit in 468 opportunities at left tackle. As a unit, the Cougars permitted just one sack in four Big 12 matchups and allowed just seven sacks across four league road games (751 pressure opportunities).

• Despite the leap into the Big 12, during Naghavi's 2023 season as Run Game Coordinator, the Cougars increased their PFF run grade from 78.0 in 2022 to 79.5 in 2023 highlighted by a breakout season from running back Parker Jenkins. Among true freshmen running backs, Jenkins ranked second nationally with 20 rushes of 10+ yards, fifth in first down rushes (25) and eighth in yards after contact (307).

• Naghavi played an integral role in Tulane's 12-2 season during 2022 that included an American Athletic Conference championship and Cotton Bowl victory over No. 10 USC. The Green Wave's offensive ranked fifth nationally in fewest offensive penalties, No. 12 in rushing touchdowns and No. 19 in scoring offense.

• In the Cotton Bowl, the Green Wave rushed for 305 yards on 34 rushes for four touchdowns alongside an average of 9.0 yards per carry. Three Tulane offensive linemen earned all-conference recognition including two first-team honorees.

• The Katy, Texas, native is a former team captain and 2003 state champion at Katy High School. He went on to become an All-American offensive lineman at McNeese State and has worked under coaches Mack Brown, Charlie Strong, Shawn Elliot, Matt Viator and most recently, Willie Fritz.

• Naghavi spent the 2021 season at Georgia State, helping the Panthers to their most successful season in school history, highlighted by a program-best eight victories and first-ever win over a Top 25 opponent while developing two All-Sun Belt Conference offensive linemen. Georgia State finished 6-2 in conference play and capped its season with a Camellia Bowl victory. Naghavi's unit helped power a Georgia State rushing attack which ranked eighth nationally with 226.4 rushing yards per game. That season, the offensive line produced a 75.2 run block grade which ranked 10th among Group of 5 programs.

• During a three-year period at ULM, the Warhawks finished in the top three in the Sun Belt for yards per play in three consecutive seasons. In 2017, ULM ranked No. 25 nationally in scoring offense.

• Naghavi spent two seasons as offensive line coach at his alma mater, McNeese State. In 2015, he tutored three all-conference linemen, including one All-American, while 2016, he also served as recruiting coordinator.

• The stint was the second at McNeese after coaching the Cowboys' offensive tackles and tight ends in 2011-12. In both of those seasons, McNeese ranked second in the Southland Conference in rushing offense, and he helped mentor four all-conference linemen.

• He spent two seasons as an offensive line assistant at Texas under Brown (2013) and Strong (2014). During his tenure with the Longhorns, Naghavi helped develop All-Big 12 Conference linemen Trey Hopkins (first team) and Donald Hawkins (second team) in 2013 while also working with the tight ends.

• Naghavi was a three-time all-conference offensive lineman at McNeese from 2005-08, where he helped lead the Cowboys to an undefeated regular season and Southland Conference title in 2007. He named a 2008 FCS All-American by the Associated Press and the Sports Network. In addition, he earned all-Louisiana honors in 2008 and was a two-time SLC All-Academic selection (2007-08).

• 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).

• Naghavi earned his bachelor's in business administration in 2008 and master's in exercise physiology in 2012, both from McNeese State. He and his wife, Julie, have three daughters: Ryan, Austin and Mason.