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Austin Thomas returning to LSU after stint at Ole Miss

On3 imageby:Matthew Brune•01/26/24•

MatthewBrune_

Austin Thomas LSU
Austin Thomas LSU

Former LSU General Manager Austin Thomas is returning to LSU after spending two seasons at Ole Miss as the program’s Chief of Staff, sources confirm with The Bengal Tiger. The news was first reported by Wilson Alexander of The Advocate.

Thomas, who will returns to the University for a third time, will work with the LSU football program, giving head coach Brian Kelly a a veteran addition with years of experience in roster construction and management in his career.

Thomas has been on LSU’s staff twice, first working for Les Miles from 2013-2017, where he was promoted to General Manager in 2016 before eventually going to Texas A&M to be the associate athletic director for football personnel. After a few years in College Station, he went to Baylor for one year in 2020, before returning to LSU for the start of the 2021 season with his relationship with Scott Woodward leading the way.

This time, his stay at LSU was short lived, as Brian Kelly took over in 2022 and chose to let Thomas go. Now, after several pieces of the team’s personnel department have moved on, Thomas is back in Baton Rouge, a place he has spoken glowingly about in his time here.

Here’s what Thomas said after getting the job in February 2021.

“We’re so humbled and honored to be back here at LSU and to serve this great state and its people,” Thomas said. “Grateful for coach Orgeron and Scott Woodward and the entire administration. My wife went to school here, my kids were born here in Baton Rouge and I’m excited to get back here and help this school accomplish the goals we have, through the vision of Coach O and bring more championships to LSU.”

LSU has a lot of work to do over the offseason, balancing the additions from the transfer portal with the incoming freshmen, departing seniors, and a complete turnover of its defensive staff, and Thomas will be key in keeping everything in order. Brian Kelly has always been known for his management, so Thomas will be a key part of his staff in the coming seasons.

Thomas also said in 2021 how valuable recruiting the state of Louisiana is to him.

“There’s a conscious effort to evaluate and be on top of these kids in the state,” he said. “After having been to other places, Louisiana has different kids. There’s a toughness, there’s a competitive spirit, there are kids you get here you don’t get anywhere else. We definitely have an emphasis on that here.”

Kelly continues to make coaching staff hires over the offseason as his team gets closer to spring camp and taking its first steps towards competing in 2024. He also replaced all five on-field coaches with the defense after the unit finished outside the Top 100 in total defense this past season. LSU’s offense finished No. 1 in the NCAA, and quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan was promoted to offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton was promoted to co-offensive coordinator.

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