Kyle Whittingham is undergoing significant changes within his recruiting and personnel department at the University of Michigan as he moves forward with his plans for the football program. Notably, he is parting ways with several key figures, including General Manager Sean Magee, Director of Player Personnel Albert Karschnia, and Director of On-Campus Recruiting Kayli Johnson. The updates were first reported by Sam Webb of The Michigan Insider.
In addition to these departures, Director of Recruiting Sam Popper will also be leaving his position. This reshuffling comes in the wake of the university’s decision to fire head football coach Sherrone Moore three months ago, which led to Whittingham being brought on board to take charge of the program. With the roster for the upcoming season now secured following the transfer portal window and the signing of the 2026 recruiting class, Whittingham felt it was necessary to reconfigure his personnel department.
Magee made his mark on Michigan’s football program as the first general manager in 2024, overseeing off-field operations including player personnel and football budgeting. He played a crucial role in recruiting quarterback Bryce Underwood from LSU during the 2025 cycle and was instrumental in navigating the complexities of the NIL environment, contributing to the establishment of one of the nation’s first NIL collectives, Champions Circle.
Karschnia, a Michigan graduate, returned to the program as director of recruiting operations after a successful stint at Central Michigan as their director of player personnel. His prior experience as an intern with Michigan helped shape the recruiting strategies that were pivotal to the program.
Johnson leaves after two years of service as director of on-campus recruiting, where she and Karschnia were key figures in managing recruitment efforts at both high school and collegiate levels.
While the timing and implications of these departures raise questions, they signal Whittingham’s intent to build a team that aligns closely with his vision for the program. A strong candidate to watch for these openings is Robert Blechen, who previously served as Utah’s general manager and played a significant role in crafting the program’s best recruiting class in history in 2023. With Blechen currently available, it seems likely he could reunite with Whittingham in Ann Arbor, potentially bringing valuable experience and insight to the Wolverines’ recruiting efforts.