Dr. Sam Nader Season 2025

The longest standing member of the LSU football staff, Sam Nader enters his 44th year with the program in 2018. Nader is LSU’s Assistant Athletic Director for Football Operations, a position he was elevated to during the summer of 2000. During his time at LSU, Nader has been part of two national championships, six SEC titles and 30 bowl games.

Nader is responsible for overseeing all of the day-to-day administrative duties for the LSU football team.

Nader joined the LSU staff as a graduate assistant in 1975 and was hired by head coach Charles McClendon as a full-time assistant coach in 1977. He was named recruiting coordinator in 1980 and served in that role through the 1993 season.

When the NCAA eliminated the recruiting coordinator’s position, Nader assumed the position of administrative assistant for football operations in 1994 and remained in that role, where he handled a myriad of responsibilities for the LSU football program, until his promotion to assistant athletic director in 2000.

Nader was a quarterback for the Auburn Tigers from 1963-67. From 1968-69, he served as assistant coach at Jordan High School in Columbus, Georgia, and was promoted to head coach and athletics director in 1970. He served in that capacity until 1974.

In his role as recruiting coordinator, Nader spearheaded the recruiting efforts of 32 players who developed into All-SEC First-Team players, plus seven who became All-Americans.

Nader is married to the former Ann Gardner of Montgomery, Alabama, and they have three children, Breaux, Lauren and John Ryan, and five granddaughters, Brooks Claire, Mary Holland, Grace Ann, and Sarah Jane, who are the daughters of Breaux and his wife Holland, and Alyssa, who is the daughter of John Ryan.