Few people in college football personnel can say they’ve experienced the sport from nearly every possible angle. Arkansas ' new general manager Gaizka Crowley is one of them.
Gaizka Crowley's Journey
Crowley’s journey to the SEC is a testament to adaptability, persistence, and a deep-rooted passion for roster construction. A Florida State graduate, Crowley began his football career coaching high school football in Florida before working for the scouting and analytics service XOS Digital (now Catapult). From there, his path wound through the FCS ranks at Southern Illinois, Group of Five programs in the Mountain West at UNLV and the MAC at Western Michigan, the Power 4 level in the Big 12 at Arizona, and now to the SEC as the newly appointed general manager for the Arkansas Razorbacks under first-year head coach Ryan Silverfield.
In an era where college football personnel roles have rapidly evolved, Crowley has quietly become one of the most respected names in the profession. Roster construction has been his passion since his early days, where he was known as a detail-obsessed, X’s-and-O’s guy who loved fitting pieces together like a jig-saw puzzle and making everything sync together almost like being the operator for a symphony. In todays age, those puzzle pieces come with price tags, NIL valuations, and salary-cap-style allocation decisions that raise the stakes considerably.
What separates Crowley is how seamlessly he has adapted. He didn’t just understand schemes and player fit; he learned how to balance those football instincts with financial strategy in the modern era. Managing resources, allocating money, and maintaining roster flexibility are now as critical as identifying talent, and Crowley has shown he can thrive in both worlds.
That adaptability was on full display during his time at Arizona. While running personnel for the Wildcats, Crowley helped construct one of the nation’s most dramatic turnarounds in 2025. Arizona jumped from a 4–8 record in 2024 to 9–3 the following season, a transformation fueled by smart roster decisions and efficient talent evaluation. When head coach Jedd Fisch departed for the Washington job, Crowley didn’t dwell on uncertainty or excuses. He went straight to work, adjusting to the coaching change, identifying the right pieces, and empowering the staff to succeed. This sounds very similar to the situation he's presented himself with in Fayetteville.
Despite the growing administrative demands of his role, Crowley has remained grounded in the habits that got him there. His days are filled with constant communication, problem-solving, and long-term planning, but he still carves out time, early mornings or late nights, to shut his office door and grind film just because he loves doing it.
"“It’s important, no matter what your role is — but especially as you get to a more senior level — to not forget what got you there,” Crowley said. “Make sure you carve out the time to watch the tape.”"Gaizka Crowley
How Crowley Fits in with Arkansas Football
That blend of old-school film study, modern roster economics, and humility defines Crowley’s approach. Now, he brings that mindset to Arkansas, a program hungry for sustained success after years of instability. Since Bobby Petrino’s first tenure, the Razorbacks have cycled through coaches and directions, never quite recapturing consistent national relevance.
Crowley’s task is clear but demanding: help Ryan Silverfield rebuild Arkansas football with purpose, patience, and precision. If his track record is any indication, he won’t waste time. With his ability to evolve alongside the sport, manage the new financial realities, and stay grounded in the fundamentals of evaluation, Crowley is well-equipped for the challenge. Can lightning strike twice and can he replicate the same instant results he did during his time with Arizona? Hogs fans sure hope so.
From the FCS grind to the SEC spotlight, Gaizka Crowley’s rise reflects college football’s new era and Arkansas is betting that his unique perspective can help bring Razorbacks football all the way back.