Jim Nagy details new role as Oklahoma football general manager, structure of hierarchy

After joining Oklahoma football as the program’s general manager earlier this year, Jim Nagy is ready to help the Sooners reach new heights. During an appearance on The Triple Option podcast, Nagy pulled back the curtain on his role within the storied program.

“I’m here, more than anything, to help the coaching staff and help build this roster, and streamline the process,” Nagy said. “Everyone says, ‘They’re trying to go to an NFL model.’ And yes, my background is in the NFL. I’ve never worked in college football before, but I think there’s some process things that we’ve brought to Oklahoma that I think are going to help the evaluation process and certainly the valuation process. We’ve never had to really value players.

“It’s going to be a really fun collaboration. It already has been over the last three months, just getting in the building with the coaches. Certainly been energizing for me. I’ve been out of a football building for the last seven years, running the Reese’s Senior Bowl. So just getting around coaches and players again has been awesome.”

Nagy brings a unique perspective to Oklahoma’s staff. Before joining the Sooners, he was the executive director of the Senior Bowl since 2018. The bowl game is widely regarded as the best postseason all-star game in college football.

It showcases the best NFL Draft prospects who have completed their college eligibility. In the past five game cycles, the Senior Bowl has produced more than 100 drafted players each year, representing more than 40 percent of those NFL Draft classes.

Before working with the Senior Bowl, Nagy worked in a variety of scouting positions for the Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots and Washington Redskins. In total, Nagy has 18 year of experience in NFL front offices. He’s been happy with the way Oklahoma has received his insights.

“They’ve been really receptive,” Nagy said. “We’re trying to make their jobs easier in places. These college coaches got a lot on their plates… It is going to be a true split structure between Coach Venables and myself.

“We’re going to work in tandem. When I came out for the interview, I tried to be really intentional with my communication with Brent that, if we move forward, we got to be on the same page.”

Of course, Jim Nagy isn’t solely working with Brent Venables. He’s also established strong relationships with the assistants on Oklahoma’s staff.

“The coolest part of the job so far has been the buy in from the assistants,” Nagy said. “I didn’t want to come in here and just blow this thing up, watching tape and maybe not agree with where they were at with some of their assessments on players. We haven’t done that.”