Austin Thomas is heading back to Oxford.
The former LSU general manager is expected to return to Ole Miss in a similar high-ranking role, stepping in as general manager and president of football operations, according to multiple reports. It’s a familiar landing spot for Thomas, who’s had multiple stints with both programs and now finds himself back in the SEC shuffle just months after being left out of LSU’s new regime.
Thomas wasn’t retained at LSU following the arrival of new head coach Lane Kiffin, who brought his longtime personnel chief Billy Glasscock with him from Ole Miss. Glasscock has been Kiffin’s go-to general manager since 2024-when Thomas left Oxford to rejoin LSU for a third time. That move, while professionally strategic for Thomas, reportedly put a strain on his relationship with Kiffin, despite their long history working together at three different schools.
Still, Thomas' return to Ole Miss signals a renewed alignment between the two. And make no mistake-this is a major front-office move for the Rebels.
Thomas has long been considered one of the sharpest minds in college football’s evolving executive landscape. Nearly a decade ago, he was among the first in the sport to carry the general manager title, and his reputation has only grown since. Earlier this year, LSU handed him a three-year, $2.5 million contract extension, a clear sign of his value in the program’s front-office rebuild.
That rebuild included a major roster overhaul ahead of the 2024 season. Thomas was a key figure in LSU’s aggressive push in the transfer portal, helping the Tigers land the No. 1 portal class in the country, according to 247Sports. That effort came on the heels of a significant NIL fundraising campaign-another area where Thomas played a hands-on role.
His return to LSU was closely tied to former athletic director Scott Woodward, who brought Thomas back to Baton Rouge to reshape the football infrastructure. The two had a strong working relationship, with Thomas often referring to Woodward as a mentor. But when LSU parted ways with both head coach Brian Kelly and Woodward in late October, Thomas’ future with the program became murky.
Now, Ole Miss is bringing him back into the fold, and it’s clear the Rebels are reloading their off-field talent just as aggressively as their on-field roster. In recent weeks, Kiffin has moved quickly to poach several LSU staffers. Ole Miss added assistant general manager Kelvin Bolden last week-a familiar face who worked with Thomas for two years in Oxford before following him to Baton Rouge this past summer.
Meanwhile, LSU has continued to finalize its own front-office hires. The Tigers recently reached agreements with director of player personnel Mike Williams and director of recruiting Dwike Wilson, both of whom are expected to play key roles under Kiffin’s new staff in Baton Rouge.
But the spotlight now shifts back to Thomas and what his return means for Ole Miss. With his deep recruiting connections, transfer portal savvy, and proven ability to navigate the complex world of NIL, Thomas brings more than just experience-he brings results. And as college football continues to evolve into a front-office-driven arms race, Ole Miss just added one of the sport’s most respected executives back into its war room.