Oklahoma is shaking things up by bringing Jim Nagy on board as their new football general manager, as announced this Wednesday. Nagy, who has been at the helm of the Senior Bowl since 2018, joins the Sooners amidst a growing trend of college teams hiring individuals with NFL experience to head their scouting and personnel operations.
Nagy’s role at Oklahoma will involve overseeing the program’s roster management. This includes identifying and evaluating recruits, handling the transfer portal, retaining current players, and managing athletes’ compensation through name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreements, as well as future structures anticipated from the House v. NCAA settlement.
With 18 years of talent evaluation experience in NFL front offices with teams like Seattle, Kansas City, New England, and Washington, Nagy has a strong pedigree. At the Senior Bowl, he’s been responsible for selecting players for the annual showcase, which consistently turns out over 100 NFL draft picks each year.
The Sooners join the ranks of Stanford, Cal, and North Carolina in hiring a general manager with NFL roots. This shift reflects how the nature of the transfer portal and NIL deals have brought college roster management closer to the NFL’s style. Among these recent hires, Nagy stands out for his extensive background in scouting college talent.
In the university’s announcement, it’s highlighted that Nagy will work closely with OU coach Brent Venables, emulating the collaborative approach seen in NFL teams. Randall Stephenson, who came on board in December for budgeting and planning in preparation for revenue sharing, will take on the role of “Chair of Football” and act as a special advisor to the president and athletic director. He will oversee both Nagy and Venables while maintaining his original responsibilities.
Oklahoma Athletic Director Joe Castiglione expressed his confidence in Nagy’s appointment, emphasizing the necessity for skilled management of player contracts and resources in today’s collegiate athletics landscape. He expressed belief in the capacity of Oklahoma to innovate and adapt to these changes, ensuring that Coach Venables and his team have all the tools necessary for success.
Nagy steps into this role at a critical juncture. Coach Venables, who has a record of 22-17 over three seasons, is eager to reverse the team’s fortunes following back-to-back 6-7 seasons. This marks the first time since the late 90s that the Sooners have experienced two sub-.500 finishes in three years. Venables, preparing for the next challenge, recently enlisted Ben Arbuckle as the new offensive coordinator and signed John Mateer, a highly-ranked transfer quarterback.
As for the Senior Bowl, Nagy’s departure signifies a significant shift. The event saw a similar change when Nagy succeeded Phil Savage. The main curiosity revolves around future talent selection processes for the Senior Bowl, as it traditionally depends heavily on the executive director’s decisions. In contrast, its rival, the Shrine Bowl, prefers a committee-based approach.
This transition is happening during an intriguing period for all-star games. The rivalry between the Senior Bowl and the Shrine Bowl, while intense, largely remains out of public view. There’s no hard-and-fast rule that the Senior Bowl must reign supreme over the Shrine Bowl when it comes to showcasing the top draft prospects. The next leader’s strategy in choosing participants for the Senior Bowl will be something to watch closely. — Nick Baumgardner
