Ed Orgeron announces hiring of LSU general manager Austin Thomas
After two years at Texas A&M and a season on Dave Aranda’s Baylor staff, Austin Thomas is back in Baton Rouge on Ed Orgeron’s staff. Orgeron announced that Thomas has been hired as the program’s general manager.
“It’s great to have Austin back with us,” Orgeron said via a school release. “He’s going to do an outstanding job with the day-to-day operations of our program. He’s bright, understands what it takes to be successful at the highest level of college athletics and will work closely with me to ensure that everything we do is geared towards winning more championships.”
Thomas was previous on LSU’s staff from 2013-17. In 2016, Orgeron gave him the title of general manager, a first in SEC history.
“My family and I are humbled and excited to return to Baton Rouge and for the opportunity to serve as the general manager for the LSU football program,” Thomas said in the announcement. “We are forever grateful to Coach Orgeron, Scott Woodward, the LSU administration and the entire LSU community for this opportunity and for welcoming us with open arms.
“I am greatly looking forward to working and growing alongside Coach Orgeron, the LSU coaching staff, players and support staff to accomplish our goals as an organization. I feel blessed to serve this great University, the state of Louisiana and its wonderful people on a daily basis. I do not take this responsibility lightly and I look forward to upholding the ‘LSU Standard of Performance’ in order to make Louisiana proud of its flagship institution. Geaux Tigers!”
Thomas served as the associate athletic director for football personnel at Texas A&M for two years in 2018-19. He was senior associate athletic director for football at Baylor for 2020.
Hold that tiger!
What does a general manager do at a college program?
It’s basically the same as personnel director, just under a different title. He helps with training, recruiting, talent evaluation. Like a jack of all trades. In his first stint at LSU, he recruited JaCoby Stevens to the program, among others.
Thanks. I asked the same question down below.
I should have read the comments before I posted. I asked the same thing.
And this matters why?
Rhetorical question. It doesn’t.
What does matter though is Elias Ricks and what appears to be his imminent transfer or “opt out” or whatever it is we call quitting nowadays.
What are you guys calling it? You’ve had so many players bail on your headcoach this season that one would think you’ve settled on a name for it. You folks still sticking with “opt out”?
Anyway, back to the topic at hand. You know who the “general manager” is for The Alabama Crimson Tide? Yeah, you know. We all know. Nick Saban.
What is it about LSU that keeps Dacoacheaux from successfully running this program? What is Whiteboots struggling to grasp?
And speaking of struggling to grasp things. Why does LSU hire offensive coordinators who are so bad at their job or so inexperienced, they need “passing game” coordinators? I mean we all know that concept was invented at LSU so as not to hurt Inzminguh’s feelings but we all sorta thought that would retire with the “slinger”. “Passing game coordinator” is what you had to call your real offensive coordinator. Well I guess it had to hang around because the new guy doesn’t know what he’s doing either.
Why is it experienced coaches worth having want nothing to do with Coach Yawyaw? Now that’s a rhetorical question. You don’t have to answer that.
Please reinstate Pandy Fackler. He’s good people.
I have no clue what a general manager does for a college football team. It says help with the day to day running of the program, but what does the HC and assistants do? No this is not a shot at coach O. I like him. Just a comment that college staffs are getting kind of vague, or I am getting old. I know the second part of that is true.
It’s a title. Every program has a guy who just makes sure things get done. From what I gathered, he sounds like he’s replacing Sam Nader who just had a different title. Then only difference is that Austin has to shown himself to be a good talent evaluator
With you Tidefan…as I’ve gotten older, college staff positions have become more vague to me. Something to look forward to when I’m too old to care about the stuff I care about now…
LOL! But will we remember that we used to care about them?
Will it matter?? lol