The role of a General Manager is familiar to most NFL fans, but less so to those who prefer the collegiate code of football. A traditional hierarchy for a college football program sees the head coach report to the athletics director. It is the AD, and not a GM, ultimately responsible for their job security.
The difference in the two structures allows college coaches a lot more autonomy than their professional counterparts. Whilst NFL coaches defer to their front office staff for talent acquisition, CFB head coaches dictate recruitment. They and their staff scour tape for recruits, with the HC ultimately pulling the trigger on scholarship offers. But is this necessarily the best thing for the team?
Coaches are very controlling individuals by nature, but the best ones are able to identify their shortcomings. For almost every head coach in college football, time is the biggest constraint. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything to a high level. In the endless search for a competitive advantage, Auburn has made a key hire. And they hope their new employee will transform their future recruiting for the better…
A Growing Trend
On Monday, news broke that The Tigers are expected to hire longtime NFL scout Drew Fabianich as a General Manager and Director of Football Scouting & Development. The role, which has never existed at Auburn before, follows a small but growing trend of GM’s in college football. The tenth team to hire a general manager, Auburn follows in the footsteps of programs such as LSU, UNC, Texas A&M and Baylor to name a few. All these schools have enjoyed recent improvements on the field, and Bryan Harsin will be hoping for similar results on The Plains.
Fabianich comes with a diverse portfolio. His role will include scouting the high school and junior college ranks as well as players in the transfer portal. But interestingly, he will also act as a conduit for Auburn players and their professional ambitions, analyzing the Tigers’ roster for NFL talent and helping them make the step up. So it begs the question – who is Drew Fabianich?
Two Decades Of Scouting Experience
Drew Fabianich brings an impressive resume to Auburn. He arrives after an incredible nineteen years as a scout for the Dallas Cowboys – astonishing tenure in such a cutthroat business. He also comes with plenty of experience at the college level too, including as a QB/WR coach at Mesa State, DL coach at Tennessee, and DC at both UT-Martin and ULM. Bringing experience in both the coaching and front office aspects of football, Fabianich is uniquely qualified for the role.
Fabianich’s scouting prowess in Dallas was held in high esteem. Widely credited for The Cowboys taking Dak Prescott in the 4th round of the 2016 draft, Fabianich has a keen eye for talent. The Longmont, Colorado native has been part of Jerry Jones’ franchise for the best part of two decades. That alludes to his loyalty, as well as how appealing this new role at Auburn must be.
How Fabianich Makes Auburn Better
Bryan Harsin leads Auburn into a make or break 2022 season
2022 is a crucial season for Bryan Harsin. This coaching team requires complete focus on the season ahead. And putting wins on the board is crucial if they are to convince the antsy administration they are able to bring long-term success to Jordan-Hare. Having a figure with the experience, cachet and talent of Fabianich in the building will allow them to do that. They can lean on their newest employee to pick up some of recruiting’s heavy lifting whilst they focus on game preparation.
It also seems there’s a little more belief in Harsin in-house than it may appear. A man with a CV as impressive as Fabianich doesn’t come to Auburn if he thinks the coaching staff are lame ducks. By all accounts, Harsin spearheaded this appointment; Fabianich must be all in on the culture being established and content it will lead to long-term success. For AD Allen Greene, whose contract expires at the end of the year, it’s an opportunity to build bridges and fortify the program. Fabianich can be the glue behind the scenes that helps maintain a harmonic, healthy relationship with the administration.
Fabianich’s other role is just as crucial as his scouting acumen. It’s one thing to identify talent, another to lure it to Auburn. Helping players achieve their dreams of an NFL career will, long-term, encourage more prospects to commit to The Tigers. More now than ever, a clear pathway to the pro’s is a major pull in recruitment. If Fabianich can hit the ground running, then Auburn will be even more appealing to future classes.
The hiring of Fabianich may not move the needle for the casual college football observer. But this low-key move might prove to be the salvation of Harsin, and the revolution of the Auburn football program. WDE!
