Michigan Hires Former Notre Dame Exec as New GM

Dave Peloquin brings extensive experience in NIL and player personnel to Ann Arbor

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Michigan has hired Dave Peloquin, a former Notre Dame executive, as its new general manager. Peloquin has over 20 years of experience in college football, including roles in player personnel and strategic initiatives. He is considered an expert in the evolving NIL landscape and has strong Midwest recruiting ties, which should help address concerns about Michigan's ability to recruit locally.

Why it matters

This hire is seen as a major coup for Michigan as they look to take the next step under head coach Kyle Whittingham. Peloquin's experience and connections should bolster Michigan's recruiting efforts, particularly in the Midwest region, and help the program navigate the complex world of NIL.

The details

Peloquin most recently served as the GM of the intercollegiate division for the agency Athletes First. Prior to that, he spent 21 years at Notre Dame, holding various roles including director of player personnel, director of football development, and assistant athletic director for strategic initiatives. During his time in South Bend, the Fighting Irish appeared in two national championship games.

  • Peloquin was with Notre Dame from 2004 to 2025.
  • Michigan parted ways with former GM Sean Magee this week.

The players

Dave Peloquin

Peloquin is the new general manager of the Michigan Wolverines football program. He brings over 20 years of experience in college football, including extensive work in player personnel and NIL at Notre Dame.

Kyle Whittingham

Whittingham is the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines football team.

Tony Alford

Alford is the running backs coach for the Michigan Wolverines and was previously Peloquin's colleague at Notre Dame.

Larry Black

Black is the new defensive line coach for the Michigan Wolverines and also previously worked with Peloquin at Notre Dame.

Sean Magee

Magee was the former general manager of the Michigan Wolverines football program, but the team parted ways with him this week.

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What they’re saying

“Peloquin and Wolverines star running backs coach Tony Alford worked hand-in-hand together at Notre Dame, where Alford was consistently the Fighting Irish's top recruiter and Peloquin had then risen to the role of director of player personnel -- before even the concept of a collegiate general manager existed.”

— Football Scoop (Football Scoop)

“Peloquin helped recruit Tyler Stockton from New Jersey prep powerhouse The Hun School to Notre Dame; Stockton was hired by the Whittingham & Co. as Michigan's new safeties coaches.”

— Football Scoop (Football Scoop)

“Michigan's newest on-field staff addition -- defensive line coach Larry Black -- is a former Peloquin colleague from their shared season together in South Bend, Indiana, in 2018, as Black was a key cog on then-defensive coordinator Clark Lea's Fighting Irish defensive staff.”

— Football Scoop (Football Scoop)

What’s next

Michigan is reportedly parting ways with several key members of its recruiting department, including the director of player personnel, director of on-campus recruiting, and director of recruiting. It will be interesting to see who the program hires to fill those openings and how Peloquin's expertise shapes the new-look recruiting staff.

The takeaway

This hire of Dave Peloquin as Michigan's new general manager is a significant move that addresses some of the program's perceived weaknesses. Peloquin's deep experience in player personnel, NIL, and Midwest recruiting should provide a major boost as the Wolverines look to take the next step under head coach Kyle Whittingham.