High school teams in the Detroit area are going to need to make sure their offensive and defensive signals are kept under lock and key.
The Detroit News reported Friday that Mumford High School, a Detroit prep team coming off back-to-back one-win seasons, has hired Connor Stalions as defensive coordinator.
“I got the most hated man in college football right now, Connor Stalions,” new Mumford head coach William McMichael said. “He’s my defensive coordinator.”
Stalions is the focal point of a multi-year alleged advanced scouting and sign-stealing operation perpetrated at Michigan from 2021 into 2023. A "player personnel analyst" for the Wolverines, Stalions reportedly purchased 30-plus tickets to games at 11 different Big Ten schools in that timeframe. The NCAA obtained a "master spreadsheet" that included a large and detailed chart listing the names of various individuals assigned to attend past and future football games involving the University’s scheduled football opponents.
The Big Ten elected to suspend then-Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh for three games after the conference was told by the NCAA it "knew and could prove" the in-person scouting scheme. Stalions resigned on Nov. 3.
The NCAA's investigation is still ongoing but reaching its final stages as a draft of a notice of allegations – still subject to change before the final NOA is sent to the Wolverines – alleged five current and former UM coaches committed Level 1 NCAA violations. New Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore could face a show-cause penalty.
Mumford went 1-8 in both 2022 and 2023 and hasn't had a winning season since 2019. The Mustangs are hoping to turn things around with the hiring of McMichael, though it remains to be seen if Stalions will give him an edge – within the rules or otherwise.
