Oklahoma football hired Jim Nagy as its next general manager, the school announced on Wednesday. Nagy is a former NFL scout and most recently the executive director of the Senior Bowl, a position he had served in since 2018.
OU hires Jim Nagy as General Manager for Football to lead roster building, player evaluation, recruiting, and compensation.Welcome to Norman, @JimNagy_SB! 📝 » https://t.co/1r3wO6LAKp pic.twitter.com/fSWjevi4RU
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) February 26, 2025
“I am convinced that great college football teams will be set apart by their ability to continually innovate to meet these massive changes. Part of that innovation means providing every tool Coach Venables and his staff need to be successful. OU's willingness to reimagine the traditional structure and reposition the varied responsibilities within football operations will strengthen us going forward,” OU Vice President and Athletic Director Joe Castiglione said in the hiring statement on Wednesday.
“Jim Nagy brings to us great experience, relationships and perspectives that will mesh well with our staff and will complement the program’s continued pursuit of conference and national championships.”
The Senior Bowl is a postseason game for the highest draft-eligible prospects in college football to showcase their skills. Nagy has coordinated the event, working with college football programs across the country and NFL front offices. As a scout, Nagy worked for four teams over the course of nearly two decades.
The hire demonstrates Oklahoma’s willingness to bring about change within the program after finishing with a 6-7 record for its inaugural season in the SEC. OU has experienced plenty of change within the program since the end of the 2024 season. The day after the Sooners’ bowl game loss to Navy, up-and-coming co-defensive coordinator Zac Alley agreed to a three-year deal to become West Virginia’s defensive coordinator.
Less than a month later, Curtis Lofton announced he would be stepping down as Oklahoma’s football General Manager effectively immediately on February 1, prompting a search to fulfill the position ahead of spring football and preparations for the 2025 season.
"This is a new era in intercollegiate athletics at one of the greatest college football programs in the country," Nagy said in his opening statement. "The legacy of excellence that precedes my arrival is a testament to the leadership at OU and the university's commitment to execute at a championship level… I am truly excited to get to Norman and begin our process with Coach Venables and his great staff."
Nagy is expected to build out a support staff that will mirror an NFL front office a source told @On3sports. He will have an assistant GM and roles focused on recruiting in high school and college. https://t.co/daqj9KOSAi
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) February 26, 2025
Nagy’s role in the program reflects the rapidly-changing atmosphere in college football and the enthusiasm that Oklahoma is approaching the changes with, emphasized by a letter sent out by Castiglione last Monday addressing fans. The letter discussed the school’s approach to new NIL parameters and investments in student-athletes, calling on fans to provide support.
The new approach to revenue sharing will be handled by Randall Stephenson, an addition Oklahoma made to the staff in early December. The former AT&T CEO was tasked with restructuring the athletics budget and providing a new model for the University’s approach to strategic and business planning in the athletics space.
With the addition of Nagy to the staff, Stephenson will now serve as the Chair of Football and Special Advisor to the President and the Director of Athletics, working alongside the new general manager and Head Coach Brent Venables.
"Nagy's high-caliber, extensive experience in scouting, recruiting, and retaining top talent will pay dividends across our roster and ultimately on the field,” Venables said. “I look forward to working alongside him and Athletics Director Castiglione as we look ahead to great things for OU football."
