Austin Thomas Returning to LSU.
Thomas is back in Baton Rouge for his third term.
Brian Kelly has made home run hiring after home run appointment in an effort to retool his defensive staff, yet the most prominent person he’s brought in will not coach a single snap for LSU.
According to Wilson Alexander of The Advocate, Austin Thomas will return to LSU as senior assistant athletic director for the football program. This is Thomas’ third time working at LSU.
Thomas first worked at LSU from 2013 to 2017. He was one of the first to be designated a college football program’s general manager coming into the 2016 season, and Thomas was a vital part in creating the group that would go on to win the 2019 national championship.
Thomas left Baton Rouge for College Station, where he served as Texas A&M’s associate athletic director for football personnel in 2018 and 2019. Thomas then spent 2020 as Baylor’s senior associate athletic director.
Thomas returned to LSU for the second time in 2021, this time to manage the roster and oversee day-to-day operations. He was not retained by Brian Kelly when Kelly was appointed, and he has spent the last two years in Oxford as the football team’s chief of staff.
In recent years, Ole Miss has dominated the site and the NIL as a whole, and Thomas has played a significant role in that. Thomas will be performing similar work at LSU, working closely with Scott Woodward.
