Sean Magee officially announced as Michigan football GM, a big one for Sherrone Moore

It’s taking a while, but new coach Sherrone Moore‘s Michigan football hires are being made official slowly, but surely. The latest — G.M. Sean Magee, who comes back to U-M from the Chicago Bears, where he served as Chief of Staff the last two years.

As the Senior Associate Athletic Director and General Manager, Magee will oversee all aspects of the recruiting and player personnel departments as well as coordinate the program’s NIL initiatives. He will handle the identification, evaluation and recruitment of prospective student-athletes in conjunction with the head coach and staff and manage the roster of current student-athletes while identifying future needs for the program.

Magee had a big impact on head coach Jim Harbaugh’s program in his first stint at Michigan (2017-22), helping bring strength coach Ben Herbert to U-M. He was promoted to Associate Athletic Director for Football during his final four seasons after serving as the Director of Player Personnel in his initial year with the program. In his role with the Wolverines, Magee was liaison to the Athletic Director and Senior Leadership Team while providing oversight and direction for the football program in the off-field areas including the management of the player personnel department, football operations and the administration of the budget for all football related activity. He additionally served as the program’s NFL liaison. 

“Sean coming back is a great deal for donors and NIL,” one we respect said — and that was our first thought, as well. And it was gate that brought him back for his second stint. Word is Oklahoma A.D. Joe Castiglione, one of the most respected athletic directors in the country, was set to hire Magee last October when the “signgate” scandal blew up at Michigan. The Sooners’ athletic department needed to make sure he not been involved before proceeding — they did, and they came back to him recently with an offer. 

Magee was prepared to take it and move his family to the Sooner State when Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore called him and asked him if he’d signed yet. He hadn’t. When Moore offered to make him his G.M., Magee jumped on it. He and Moore had been close in Ann Arbor, and now he’ll be one of the key players to help in his friend’s transition from offensive coordinator to head coach. 

He comes back to Michigan with plenty of experience. Magee interfaced with the head coach, general manager, and football operations department in executing strategic and operational priorities for the franchise. He coordinated and oversaw the planning and execution for all in-season games, practices, off-season programs, and post-season player and staff evaluations. Magee was a key advisor for all off-field related matters and was accountable for the allocation and administration of multiple budget areas. In addition, he was a member of the club’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council and was administrator of the NFL Bill Walsh Minority Fellowship Program.

Prior to his arrival at Michigan Magee served as the Director of Player Personnel at the U.S. Naval Academy for five seasons (2012-2016). While at Navy, Magee helped shape and manage the team’s roster during the winningest five-year stretch in program history.

Magee graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics. As a player at Navy from 2000 to 2003, Magee was a member of the offensive line that led the nation in rushing during the 2003 season. In addition, Magee helped lead the Midshipmen to regain the Commander in Chief’s Trophy for the first time since 1981 and was a member of the program’s first bowl game team since the 1996 season.

One of his first priorities on campus, we’ve heard, is ensuring the Michigan NIL program is where it needs to be. Sources say he’s already developing a plan to make U-M extremely competitive and ensure the players know their opportunities are a priority.