MSB: Navy Football Reshapes Recruiting Department With Key Front Office Promotions and New Hires

by Brian Hradsky · July 14, 2026

MSB: Navy Football Reshapes Recruiting Department With Key Front Office Promotions and New Hires

By Brian Hradsky | Maryland Sports Blog

As Navy Football continues building on its successful 2025 campaign under head coach Brian Newberry, the Midshipmen have quietly made several important changes behind the scenes that could have a major impact on recruiting and roster management for years to come.

The Naval Academy announced a series of football personnel updates that strengthen the program’s recruiting infrastructure, player personnel department, video operations and roster management.

The moves reflect a growing trend across college football, where front-office style positions have become just as important as on-field coaching staffs in the NIL and transfer portal era.

Danny Payne Promoted to Executive Director of Roster & Game Management

The headline move is the promotion of Danny Payne, who now serves as Executive Director of Roster & Game Management.

Payne enters his sixth year with the Navy football program after previously serving as Executive Director of Football Recruiting and Analytics.

Before arriving in Annapolis, Payne built an impressive résumé that included:

Director of Player Personnel at Georgia Southern
Director of Scouting at Army
Recruiting assistant at Kennesaw State

His new responsibilities extend well beyond recruiting.

Payne will oversee:

Scholarship management
Roster construction
Transfer portal evaluations
NCAA roster compliance
Long-term roster planning
Game management operations

As college football continues evolving, this role has become one of the most important positions inside any program.

Officially, Navy describes Payne as entering his first season in the position after serving in recruiting and analytics.

Ian Martinez Takes Over Recruiting

Another significant addition is Ian Martinez, who joins Navy as the Director of Recruiting.

Martinez will oversee:

Recruiting strategy
Prospect evaluations
Communication with recruits
Official visit coordination
Recruiting operations

With Navy continuing to recruit nationally while navigating unique Naval Academy admission standards, Martinez will play a critical role in identifying prospects who fit both athletically and academically.

Abby Hageman Leads On-Campus Recruiting

Navy also added Abby Hageman as Director of On-Campus Recruiting.

That position has become increasingly valuable in today’s recruiting landscape.

Hageman will coordinate:

Official visits
Unofficial visits
Recruiting weekends
Campus experiences
Family engagement
Event planning

A strong visit experience often makes the difference in landing top recruits, and Navy has invested heavily in improving that process.

Daniel Lindstrom Earns Expanded Role

Daniel Lindstrom has been elevated to Player Personnel Coordinator.

Working closely with Payne and Martinez, Lindstrom will assist with:

Prospect evaluations
Recruiting databases
Roster organization
Personnel analysis
Scholarship tracking

Player personnel departments have become increasingly analytical across college football, making this an important role in Navy’s recruiting operation.

Trevin Beaver Joins Video Department

Navy also welcomed Trevin Beaver as Assistant Director of Video.

Video staffs now provide far more than game film.

Responsibilities include:

Practice filming
Opponent breakdowns
Recruiting highlight production
Digital video support
Game-day technology

The position supports both coaches and recruits throughout the season.

MSB Analysis

These moves may not generate headlines like coaching hires or player commitments, but they represent an important investment in Navy Football’s future.

Programs across the country have expanded their football operations staffs to better navigate recruiting, roster limits, NIL, and the transfer portal. Navy’s latest hires show the Midshipmen are continuing to modernize their football infrastructure while maintaining the unique standards of the Naval Academy.

For a program looking to build on recent success under Brian Newberry and compete for another American Athletic Conference championship, strengthening the front office is a significant step.

While fans will focus on touchdowns and wins this fall, many of those victories begin months earlier through recruiting evaluations, roster management, and behind-the-scenes preparation. Navy appears committed to excelling in those areas as well.