The school soccer normal supervisor is likely one of the fastest-changing roles within the sport, and lots of main packages have taken huge swings this offseason. Simply this previous week, Nebraska appeared to the NFL degree for GM assist, whereas Oklahoma employed longtime scout Jim Nagy. Texas promoted an inside participant personnel staffer, Brandon Harris, and Wisconsin leaned on administrator Marcus Sedberry. 

The final supervisor place remains to be largely in its infancy as groups attempt to resolve the easiest way to deploy assets. Some packages are pulling from the professionals to construct NFL-style personnel departments with scouting and roster administration arms. Others have appeared to the faculty ranks, together with personnel administrators and scouts. The approaching years will show which mannequin works finest. 

Listed here are just a few of the highest-profile normal supervisor hires of the offseason and the way they could slot in with their respective groups. 

The rise of the faculty sports activities GM: As the sport goes skilled, solely the pinnacle coach could have extra energy

Dennis Dodd

Oklahoma: Jim Nagy

Background: Senior Bowl director, NFL scout

What units Oklahoma aside as one of many blue blood packages in faculty soccer is its sheer organizational competence. From Wilkinson to Riley and everybody in between, Oklahoma has stayed forward of the curve and located benefits. In hiring Nagy, a longtime NFL scout and govt director of the Senior Bowl, Oklahoma hopes it has discovered one more benefit. 

Nagy has lengthy been revered for his scouting capability and even interviewed for NFL normal supervisor positions. He has a variety of contacts throughout the NFL and faculty soccer, which ought to be a serious profit to constructing a roster each by way of highschool and switch portal. Oklahoma has recruited exceptionally properly beneath coach Brent Venables, however this system has two shedding seasons prior to now three years. Nagy’s ability set ought to be particularly welcome within the switch portal along with his background scouting faculty gamers for the Senior Bowl. 

One factor to look at within the coming years is whether or not Nagy is tied extra to Venables or the athletic division as Venables enters 2025 on one of many hottest seats in faculty soccer. In accordance with On3, Venables was not a part of the seek for a GM. Actually, it might appear Nagy would require a longer-term dedication to affix this system. 

Background: Longtime NFL personnel staffer, NFL GM

Lombardi has deep ties within the NFL courting again to his time beginning as a scout with the San Francisco 49ers in 1984. Although he solely spent one yr as a normal supervisor (2013 with the Cleveland Browns), he’s thought-about a extremely influential personnel staffer in trendy NFL historical past. North Carolina coach Invoice Belichick made Lombardi prime precedence when he was employed in Chapel Hill, in the end making him this system’s first rent. 

Lombardi has not held a proper soccer function since working as assistant to the teaching workers with Belichick’s New England Patriots in 2016. He has since primarily labored in media. Evidently, the transition to varsity athletics may very well be a stark one, although one he stays enthusiastic about. Lombardi has added a handful of directors with faculty ties, together with ex-UCF staffer Andrew Blaylock as affiliate director of participant personnel, to assist the method. Nevertheless, Lombardi’s best asset could merely be his credibility. 

Background: Detroit Lions scout

After shedding Bowden, the Irish reportedly went after Texas Tech GM James Blanchard, who comes from a deep highschool scouting background. As an alternative, Notre Dame appeared to the Detroit Lions, probably the most well-constructed soccer rosters of the previous few years. It is a totally different strategy than the college-focused Bowden however one that might present advantages. 

The Lions have completed a sensational job of figuring out younger expertise with upside throughout their NFL Draft course of. The Combating Irish have sturdy success as a developmental program, and Martin ought to be capable of translate his expertise imaginative and prescient to the collegiate degree. It is going to be attention-grabbing to see how Notre Dame’s acquisition technique modifications after transferring from a school personnel staffer to an NFL one. 

The Consigliere: How Michael Lombardi grew to become the highest adviser behind Invoice Belichick’s North Carolina takeover

John Talty

USC: Chad Bowden

Background: Notre Dame GM, participant personnel staffer

In contrast to most of the different names on this record, Bowden is a college-to-college poaching. Bowden got here with Marcus Freeman from Cincinnati to Notre Dame as a personnel staffer earlier than he was formally promoted to normal supervisor earlier than the 2024 season. At Notre Dame, Bowden helped assemble one of many deepest, most proficient rosters in program historical past to succeed in the CFP Nationwide Championship Sport. 

Bowden got here up on the defensive facet of the ball and discovered from two of the very best — Freeman and Luke Fickell — methods to determine defensive expertise. That might be a serious boon for USC as this system tries to search out its footing beneath coach Lincoln Riley. Bowden’s presence has already introduced some profit as USC just lately took over because the No. 1 recruiting class in 2026. In contrast to many on this record, Bowden has significantly better observe document scouting highschool. 

Moreover, like many offensive minded coaches, Riley has struggled to assemble a whole roster. Particularly at Oklahoma, his star expertise vastly over listed at broad receiver and quarterback. Having a brand new set of eyes within the room to guage the recruiting operation ought to assist result in a extra balanced roster. 

Background: New England Patriots personnel 

Nebraska coach Matt Rhule has a singular perspective as a head coach at each the collegiate and NFL degree. He leaned on his NFL bonafides as soon as once more to carry longtime New England Patriots staffer Patrick Stewart to Lincoln. Stewart beforehand spent three years beneath Rhule with the Carolina Panthers, and he even labored with Rhule at Western Carolina and Temple earlier than touchdown within the NFL. 

The Cornhuskers are thought-about to have one of many extra strong NIL operations in faculty soccer, so managing rosters and constructing NFL-style infrastructure might be Stewart’s prime precedence. Reportedly, current GM Sean Padden will transfer to a task targeted on wage cap and contracts, which can complement Stewart’s skillset. 

Rhule has an extended historical past of discovering and retaining staffers that he trusts throughout stops and ranges. That he recognized Stewart — and located a unique function for Padden, a longtime Rhule staffer — is a robust endorsement of his belief.