The head coach usually controls the traditional structure of college football leadership, and this remains the usual case for most teams. However, LSU appears to be considering a significant change. They are moving away from a traditional coaching model toward a GM-driven approach, which could redefine how rosters are built in college football.
With General Manager Austin Thomas taking on a larger role in team construction, the Tigers are betting on a front-office-style blueprint to strengthen their competitiveness at the highest level. At least, that’s what one anonymous coach recently said.
Coach Reveals LSU’s Radical Shift From Head Coach Control to GM-Driven Model
Athlon Sports gathered anonymous opinions from SEC coaches to provide insightful scouting reports on teams heading into the 2025 season. These reports are meant to offer honest evaluations of strengths, weaknesses, and expectations for each program, without coaches having to worry about public backlash or bias since their names are not revealed.
Among the most eye-opening revelations came from one coach who revealed a major change happening at LSU. We don’t know how credible his statement is, but the Tigers are moving away from the usual head coach-dominated model. Instead, they are shifting to a structure where the general manager has more power.
LSU football general manager Austin Thomas is getting a new contract a year into his original deal, pending board approval.
His salary will average $850K over the next three years. He previously made $425K per year, but LSU gave him a raise after the work he did on the roster. pic.twitter.com/X3iTM69Y5r
— Wilson Alexander (@whalexander_) April 25, 2025
That GM is Thomas, and according to the anonymous coach, his involvement is clearly visible.
“They’re going to take a significant step back on the offensive line, but they’re better at the skill positions,” the anonymous coach said.
LSU did lose some top offensive linemen to the NFL Draft. Still, they have boosted their receivers and running backs, keeping them a tough team in the SEC. The coach added that most of the credit goes to Thomas, not head coach Brian Kelly.
But beyond the roster, the biggest change is in how LSU builds its team.
“The big talk here is the way they’ve restructured. This isn’t an autonomous coaching culture anymore,” the coach explained. “[GM] Austin Thomas has a huge role building the roster, and it showed this offseason.”
Although this front-office-style approach is uncommon in college football, LSU is embracing it to maximize the potential of its players. It’s all about giving Kelly the tools to win.
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“They’re going to build BK [Brian Kelly] the best roster possible to go out and win games,” the anonymous coach added. “If they aren’t in the CFP, I think there’s some serious pressure here.”
LSU’s roster overhaul includes 18 newcomers via the transfer portal and a top-10 recruiting class, making them one of the most retooled teams in the nation. Whether this is the result of a GM-driven blueprint, no one knows the definitive answer. However, it’s evident that LSU is embracing a new era of roster management.
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