In the new era of college football, programs are doing everything they can to maintain an edge on the competition. Part of that includes off-the-field staff that mirror the professional ranks.

The Oklahoma Sooners, new members of the Southeast Conference, took a step toward staying ahead of the eight ball and hired Jim Nagy to serve as general manager where he’ll work alongside head coach Brent Venables and be tasked with responsibilities such as roster building and compensation.

It was hinted that Nagy might be on the move after the New York Jets announced they completed an interview with him for their vacant general manager role on Dec. 19, 2024.

After seven years as the executive director of the Senior Bowl, the longest continual running college football all-star game in the country hosted in Mobile, Nagy returns to the “front office” of football operations where he previously spent 18 years in NFL scouting departments of the Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots and Washington Redskins. In that time, the teams he worked for played in six Super Bowls and won four.

Over the last five seasons of his tenure overseeing the identification and selection of college football prospects to invite to the all-star game, Nagy and the Senior Bowl staff have seen over 100 alumni selected in that year’s NFL Draft, including 10 of last season’s first-round picks.

“I would like to thank our chairman, Mr. Angus Cooper II, and Mobile Arts & Sports Association President Scott Cooper for supporting the vision we set forth back in 2018 and their continued support throughout my tenure,” Nagy said in a Wednesday statement. “In addition, there are so many other groups to thank, and I am truly appreciative for all the relationships I have developed with sponsors, the National Football League office, NFL coaches and front office members, college coaches and administrators, agents, local and national media, and most importantly, our players. Lastly, a special thanks goes out to our Senior Bowl family, which consists of the talented team at our 151 Dauphin Street office, unbelievably loyal game week support staff, and dedicated 300-plus strong volunteer committee. It has been my privilege working alongside all of you.”

Nagy said this stop in his career will always be looked upon fondly, but it helped to have ended with a bang. On top of another sold out crowd, the game ended on a walk-off touchdown catch by Jack Bech who lost his brother Tiger in the New Orleans terrorist attack a month prior on New Year’s Day.

“The past seven years at the Reese’s Senior Bowl have been some of the most rewarding of my professional career and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to be even a small part of the game’s rich history. Being a steward to the City of Mobile and the National Football League’s 32 member clubs was a responsibility I took very seriously, and it has been an honor serving both entities,” Nagy said. “This year’s Senior Bowl week was arguably our best ever, from the talented roster to the sellout crowd to the storybook walk-off touchdown by TCU wide receiver Jack Bech. I look forward to watching the popularity and scope of the game continue to grow and the future of the game is certainly very bright.”

Executives at Oklahoma agreed the new college football landscape demanded a new approach to the behind-the-scenes efforts.

“Today's evolving world requires skilled management of player contracts, multiple player acquisition pathways and allocating resources. All of these are new and vital functions within college athletics,” said Oklahoma Vice President and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione. “I am convinced that great college football teams will be set apart by their ability to continually innovate to meet these massive changes. … 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.”

Venables, too, knew the addition would impact the entire Sooner program right away.

“The work required to manage a roster, including contract negotiations, player evaluation, strategic planning, recruiting, and retention, requires full-time focus and skill sets,” Venables said. “Nagy's high-caliber, extensive experience in scouting, recruiting, and retaining top talent will pay dividends across our roster and ultimately on the field. I look forward to working alongside him and Athletics Director Castiglione as we look ahead to great things for OU football.”

Oklahoma is scheduled to open the 2025 season against Illinois State at home on Aug. 30 before SEC play is set to begin on Sept. 20 at home against Auburn. The Sooners went 6-7 overall and 2-6 in their first year in the SEC last season with a trip to the Armed Forces Bowl.

Many of the newest Senior Bowl alumni, including American Team quarterbacks Riley Leonard and Jalen Milroe, will retake the spotlight this week at the NFL Combine before April’s draft at Lambeau Field.

“On behalf of Chairman Angus Cooper II and the MASA board, I’d like to congratulate Jim Nagy on this new well-earned opportunity. Jim has overseen incredible growth of the game and has elevated the entire all-star model since taking over. Equally as important, he has been a true champion of the City of Mobile and the surrounding communities,” Mobile Arts & Sports Association President Scott Cooper said. “Over the past seven years, Jim and his staff have overcome great challenges, ranging from a venue change to Hancock Whitney Stadium and devising a comprehensive plan to play the game during the COVID-19 pandemic to adapting to an altered coaching format. Because of Jim’s leadership, the Senior Bowl is strongly positioned as the unquestioned top all-star showcase and the first stage of the draft process moving forward. This is a very attractive job in the football space, and we look forward to beginning the search for Jim’s successor in the near future.”