JUST IN: Top General Manager Returning to LSU
Brian Kelly has brought some familiar faces back to LSU over the last couple of weeks. Another one is joining the fold, as Austin Thomas has agreed to return to Baton Rouge, sources tell Geaux247. Wilson Alexander with The Advocate, first reported the news.
While a designated title remains to be seen, Thomas is expected to serve in a General Manager/Chief of Staff type of role. In today’s environment of NIL, roster management has never been more important. That was one of his strengths at his last stop at Ole Miss.
This marks Thomas’ third stint with the LSU program.
Thomas first arrived at LSU in 2013 and stayed until 2017. He returned in 2020 after he served under Baylor head coach Dave Aranda as a Senior Associate Athletics Director in football. It was the second time Thomas had served as the General Manager of the LSU football program after Ed Orgeron promoted him into the role when he shed the interim head coach label in late 2016.
Following Kelly’s arrival, Thomas joined Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The Rebels made a huge splash in the transfer portal this offseason and Thomas played a key role in the roster management operations, among other responsibilities within the football department.
Thomas will reunite with LSU Athletics Director Scott Woodward, who served as AD at Texas A&M when Thomas was an Associate Athletics Director for football with the Aggies from 2018-19.
Thomas is one of several hires with previous ties to the program Kelly made this offseason in retooling his defensive staff.
Bo Davis returned to the place he played at as the defensive line coach, while another former Tiger on the field and as a coach found his way home in Corey Raymond as the secondary coach. Both will serve under new defensive coordinator Blake Baker, who coached the Tiger linebackers in 2021.
Kelly also appointed Joe Sloan and Cortez Hankton to Co-Offensive Coordinator to replace Mike Denbrock, and hired Slade Nagle.
