Ole Miss has made a landmark move that signals a new era for its football program, announcing Austin Thomas as the program’s president and general manager of football. The appointment reflects the rapidly evolving landscape of college athletics and underscores the Rebels’ commitment to building a modern, sustainable, and competitive football operation.
Thomas will oversee all aspects of the football program’s infrastructure, including roster management, recruiting strategy, Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) coordination, player personnel decisions, and alignment between football operations and the university’s broader athletic goals. The role blends executive leadership with football-specific expertise, a structure increasingly common among elite programs navigating NIL, the transfer portal, and expanded recruiting calendars.
A familiar name in Oxford, Thomas returns to Ole Miss with extensive experience across the SEC and college football at large. He previously served in key personnel and recruiting roles with the Rebels, where he played a major part in assembling competitive rosters and modernizing recruiting operations. Since then, Thomas has continued to build his résumé through high-level positions at other Power Five programs, gaining valuable insight into roster construction, talent evaluation, and the business side of college football.
Ole Miss leadership believes Thomas is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between coaching staff, administration, and external partners. His role as president and general manager will allow head coach Lane Kiffin and his staff to focus more directly on on-field performance, while Thomas manages the increasingly complex ecosystem surrounding player acquisition, retention, and development.
Central to Thomas’ responsibilities will be roster strategy in the transfer portal era. With player movement at an all-time high, Ole Miss aims to remain aggressive and efficient in identifying needs, evaluating talent, and building depth. Thomas will oversee data-driven evaluations and long-term planning to ensure roster balance across recruiting classes and positions.
NIL strategy is also expected to be a major focus. Thomas will coordinate closely with Ole Miss’ NIL collectives and external partners to align opportunities with recruiting and retention goals, while ensuring compliance with conference and NCAA guidelines. His leadership is expected to bring greater structure, transparency, and competitive advantage to the Rebels’ NIL approach.
Recruiting remains another cornerstone of the position. Thomas will guide national and regional recruiting strategies, oversee scouting operations, and help integrate high school recruiting with portal additions. His experience across multiple SEC programs gives him a deep understanding of the conference’s recruiting battles and the evolving expectations of prospects and their families.
The creation of this role reflects Ole Miss’ broader vision for football as both a competitive enterprise and a flagship brand for the university. By centralizing decision-making under a president and general manager, the Rebels aim to create long-term stability and adaptability in an era of constant change.
For Ole Miss fans, the move represents an investment in sustained success. With Austin Thomas at the helm of football operations, the Rebels are positioning themselves to compete at the highest level of the SEC, not just on Saturdays, but year-round in recruiting rooms, NIL negotiations, and strategic planning sessions that shape the future of college football.