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LSU football: Brian Kelly makes another significant addition to the 2024 coaching staff

Brian Kelly put a bow on his 2024 LSU football coaching staff on Wednesday by announcing his new offensive coordinator. But such wasn't the only coaching news regarding the program.

By John Fye

Dec 27, 2023; Annapolis, MD, USA; Tulane Green Wave head coach interim Slade Nagle walks down the
Dec 27, 2023; Annapolis, MD, USA; Tulane Green Wave head coach interim Slade Nagle walks down the / Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
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The LSU football offense is in great hands after Joe Sloan and Cortez Hankton were promoted to co-offensive coordinators. However, Brian Kelly had another prominent spot to fill on his staff.

On Wednesday, Kelly announced that Slade Nagle was hired as LSU football special team coordinator and tight ends coach. Nagle will head north after serving as an assistant coach at Tulane since 2016. He most recently served as the Green Wave's interim head coach after Willie Fritz departed for the Houston head coaching position.

Nagle is a Lake Charles native who played quarterback at McNeese State and coached LSU's special teams under Les Miles in 2009.

Special Teams has been an Achilles heel for LSU football during Kelly's tenture. He removed Brian Polian from the role after an abysmal kicking and return game in 2022. Veteran assistant John Jancek was hired as the special teams coach for 2023, but mainly in title only.

Several LSU football coaches combined to lead the Tigers' special teams units, with Jancek mainly focused on coaching linebackers. However, things changed during the season after defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey took a leave of absence to deal with health issues.

Lindsey's departure shifted Jancek to defensive line coaching duties and elevated Bob Diaco from analyst to an on-field role that included leading special teams.

Nagle is expected to bring much-needed stability to the special teams leadership while also improving the performance of LSU's tight ends. The Tigers had a big offensive season in 2023, but there was much to be desired from the outputs of Mason Taylor and Ka'Morreun Pimpton.

LSU football has also added another significant tight end to its roster in 2024 recruit Trey-Dez Green.

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As of now, both Jancek and Diaco remain listed as assistant football coaches on the LSU Sports Website.