The Oklahoma Sooners were praised for making a home-run hire when they landed Jim Nagy as their new football general manager, but now it's out how much Nagy cost to lure to Norman.
OU's Board of Regents approved Nagy's new contract during a meeting on Monday. Nagy agreed to a three-year deal with the Sooners with an increasing salary. He will make $750,000 for the 2025 season. The salary will then increase by $100,000 each season.
Overall, the year-year contract is worth $2.55 million.
Nagy was previously Executive Director of the Senior Bowl since 2018. Before taking over the Senior Bowl, Nagy spent 18 years inside NFL front offices. He had scouting roles with the Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots and the Washington Redskins.
The experience from the NFL while still having a hand in college football seemed like the perfect mix for a general manager, a role programs around the country are still trying to figure out the formula for.
Nagy will lead roster building, player evaluation, recruiting, and compensation for OU's football program while working alongside head coach Brent Venables. He will also manage the impact of rules governing NIL, the transfer portal process, revenue-share allocation, scholarship limits and eligibility requirements, according to OU.
Nagy said during a press conference last week that OU's front office staff under him will continue to grow, particularly with an assistant GM. He said he plans to bring in more people with experience in the NFL.
What that means financially is that Nagy wasn't just a $2.55 million investment for the Sooners, but also whatever is needed to bolster his staff. These extra funds are needed to help navigate a time where money is more precious and scarce than ever in college football, which could seem contradicting to some.
However, football programs around the country, including OU, have made much more expensive gambles on positions. Part of Nagy's job will be to make sure NIL funds are spent on the right players.
If Nagy even meets expectations and becomes a force in getting the Sooners back to their traditional success, then he could be considered a bargain three years from now.