The athletic director of the University of Michigan resigned amid several controversies during Michigan’s football season, including his decision to send a concussed quarterback in back into a game this September.

The Dave Brandon era in the Michigan athletic department officially ended Friday afternoon. The university’s 11th athletic director handed in his resignation earlier this week amid a storm of controversy.

A string of athletic department mishaps in the past several months dominated headlines around the Michigan campus and served as a regular distraction at sporting events.

“Dave feels that it would be in the best interest of our student-athletes, the athletic department and the university community if he moved on to other challenges and allowed the important work of the department and the university to continue without daily distractions,” said Mark Schlissel, the university’s president.

Schlissel said he would begin searching for Brandon’s replacement immediately.

The president, who took office at Michigan in July, said he will be looking for someone who prioritizes highly the welfare of student-athletes and operates with “integrity to the Michigan way of doing athletics.” He said previous ties to the school or its sports teams are not prerequisites for the job.

“I think we need the very best person possible to do this job,” Schlissel said. “Certainly, people that have a connection to Michigan know many things about the university. I can tell you, though, despite the fact that I’ve only been here for about 110 days, I feel like a Michigan man already.”

Schlissel appointed former Michigan football player Jim Hackett to serve as interim athletic director and help select a permanent replacement. Hackett played for legendary Wolverines coach Bo Schembechler in the 1970s and served as the CEO of a successful office furniture business after graduating. Hackett sits on the board of advisors for two academic programs at the university.