TurnkeyZRG Appoints Vice President
May 18, 2026 – TurnkeyZRG has expanded with the addition of Sean Magee as vice president. “College and professional football are being reshaped in real time — by revenue sharing, NIL, the transfer portal, and unprecedented financial and operational complexity,” said Chad Chatlos, managing partner, ZRG Turnkey. “Sean lived inside that disruption as a senior operator. He understands what it takes to build and sustain winning programs when the rules are changing, and that perspective is exactly what our clients need right now.”
“Sean brings the rare combination of operator experience and strategic perspective that the market is demanding right now,” Mr. Chatlos continued. “Our clients are not just hiring leaders, they are navigating structural change. Sean has lived that reality and knows how to build within it.”
Mr. Magee brings 15 years of experience across professional and collegiate football, with deep expertise in personnel strategy, talent acquisition, roster construction, roster finance, financial cap modeling and fundraising. He builds sustainable winning. He has operated at the highest levels of the sport, most recently serving as senior associate athletic director and general manager for the University of Michigan football program, where he helped lead a national championship-caliber organization. Prior to Michigan, Mr. Magee served as chief of staff for the Chicago Bears, acting as a strategic advisor across football operations, and earlier held leadership roles within Michigan Athletics focused on player personnel and program development.
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Mr. Magee began his career as a decorated naval officer, serving eight years before transitioning into football operations as director of player personnel for Navy. His experience spans both military and elite sports environments, giving him a rigorous, disciplined, team-first approach to team-building and team leadership.
“Sean Magee is an exceptionally talented professional who understands how to build championship teams,” shared Mike Macdonald, head coach, Seattle Seahawks, “Having worked with him directly, I have seen his ability to identify elite talent, execute at a high level and align team goals. His addition to ZRG Turnkey is a significant win for the firm and the organizations he will work with.”
“Sean is excellent in so many areas and will thrive in this new role,” said Ryan Poles, general manager, Chicago Bears. “He is an intelligent, strategic thinker who will help organizations and teams achieve at a high level.”
Related: TurnkeyZRG Recruits CEO for the Heisman Trophy Trust
“Magee’s appointment also reflects ZRG’s continued investment in building sector specific advisory teams that combine deep operator experience with the scale, data, and insight of a global talent platform — ensuring clients benefit from both specialized expertise and broader strategic perspective,” the firm said. “His appointment reflects ZRG’s continued investment in combining search excellence with real-world operator experience to better serve clients in a rapidly evolving talent landscape.”
Supporting Collegiate Programs
At ZRG Turnkey, Mr. Magee will work closely with Mr. Chatlos and ZRG Turnkey’s industry-leading coach and general manager sector, supporting the identification and placement of head coaches and general managers across professional and intercollegiate athletics. In addition, he will help expand the firm’s advisory capabilities, delivering data-driven insights, financial management and operational support to collegiate programs navigating the increasing complexity of NIL, revenue sharing, and the transfer portal.
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Founded in 1996, TurnkeyZRG is a specialized talent recruitment/executive search firm filling C-level, senior-level and mid-management-level positions throughout sports, media and entertainment. Over the past 25 years, the firm has filled more than 1,400 positions. TurnkeyZRG helps teams, leagues, stadiums, arenas, theaters, college athletic departments, events, sponsors, agencies, media companies, private equity companies and other clients identify, recruit, and hire the best management talent.
Len Perna is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Turnkey. He has 30-plus years’ experience in the sports and entertainment industry, with senior-level management experience in sales, event marketing and management, sponsorships, venue feasibility and development, facility operations, licensing, and legal affairs. Since founding Turnkey, Mr. Perna has managed over 1,400 executive searches.
Related: TurnkeyZRG Assists UNC Recruit New Men’s Head Basketball Coach
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
