Oklahoma Sooners Football Hires New Scouting Coordinator

The Oklahoma Sooners have made another addition to their recruiting and scouting staff, hiring Manaia Brown as a scouting coordinator to start in July.

Brown was most recently the assistant director of recruiting at Fresno State. The former Nebraska and BYU defensive tackle also spent a year as the defensive line coach at Northeastern State following a stint at Garden City Community College, the JUCO alma mater of head coach Brent Venables. He also has over ten years of coordinator experience.

As a player, he was a two-time All-Mountain West selection, and even signed a free-agent contract with Washington in the NFL.

His hiring is far from the only support staff move the Sooners have made this offseason, and he'll help to replace the loss of scouting coordinator T.J. Lynn, who left for a job as a graduate assistant at UCLA coaching cornerbacks.

GM Jim Nagy continues to build all the tools around head coach Brent Venables to give the football program everything they need to succeed.

Brown released a statement on X announcing his move to Norman saying, "Built for the grind. Hungry for the challenge.Proud to be part of Oklahoma Football. Time to go compete for championships, build relationships, and chase greatness every single day.Let’s get to work.Boomer Sooner. #OUDNA #HardToKill"

This hire makes sense for Oklahoma. Brown has experience as a player at a high level and as a coach and recruiter. Coming from Fresno State where he was heavily involved in recruiting, he brings fresh eyes and energy to the staff. His background at Garden City Community College, where Venables played, adds another connection to the head coach.

Jim Nagy has been building a strong support staff around Venables, and this is another piece of that puzzle. Losing T.J. Lynn was a blow, but bringing in someone like Brown helps keep the recruiting and scouting operation strong.

Nagy’s ability to find good fits and build a professional front office is one of the reasons Oklahoma feels like it’s moving in the right direction.

Brown’s statement on X shows he’s excited about the opportunity. He’s ready to grind, compete for championships, and be part of the OU family.

For Sooner Nation, this is another positive step. The program is investing in the right people behind the scenes. Recruiting and scouting are huge in today’s college football world with the transfer portal and NIL. Having a strong staff in those areas gives Venables and the coaches more time to focus on developing players and winning games.

Oklahoma has the talent and the coaching to compete at a high level. Adding guys like Brown helps make sure they’re doing everything possible to stay ahead. The Sooners are building something real in Norman, and moves like this show they’re serious about sustained success.

This hire fits the pattern of what Nagy and Venables have been doing. They’re bringing in people with experience, connections, and the right mindset. Brown’s playing background and recruiting experience should help on the trail and in evaluating talent.

Overall, this is a solid addition for the Sooners. Brown seems hungry and ready to contribute. With the right support around Venables, Oklahoma has a chance to keep trending upward. The foundation is being built for long-term success, and moves like this are part of that.