'Most hated man in college football' gets another chance on sideline

Connor Stalions is getting another chance to roam the sideline as a part of a football coaching staff in the Great Lakes State eight months after resigning from his post as a recruiting staffer at the University of Michigan.

Multiple reports on Friday stated that Stalions had been hired as the defensive coordinator for Mumford High School in Detroit.

"He might be the most hated man in college football, but the coaches and kids at Mumford High School love him," Mustangs first-year head coach William McMichael said, according to a report by ESPN's Mark Schlabach .

Per the report, McMichael added that Stalions will be working as a volunteer.

Stalions' resignation came amid the program's sign-stealing scandal. The NCAA opened an investigation last October during the Wolverines' run to the national championship, alleging that Stalions was the mastermind of a scheme that involved the program sending individuals to games involving future opponents using tickets he purchased over three years.

Those people allegedly recorded the teams' signs, and though in-game scouting is allowed, scouting in-person games of future teams on the schedule isn't.

Former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended for the final three regular-season games during the 2023 campaign. The Los Angeles Chargers new head coach also served a school-imposed three-game suspension at the beginning of last season relating to another NCAA recruiting investigation.

In early August, the NCAA gave Harbaugh a four-year show-cause for minor recruiting violations and "unethical conduct," though his five-year deal with the Chargers will likely make that punishment moot.

As for Stalions, he told The Athletic on the day of his resignation that he "[loves] the University of Michigan and its football program," adding that he didn't "want to be a distraction" from what he hoped would be a "championship run."

McMichael emphasized how much the high schoolers enjoy having the former Wolverines staffer around, noting that they call him "Five-star Stalions."

"The kids love him," McMichael said, according to David Goricki of The Detroit News . "He seemed like the perfect fit for us and what we wanted to do. The defense we've been running for a while mirrors Michigan's. It gives an edge to the guys who are looking to go to the next level because they're learning college lingo and how you go about being professional."

The hire comes as Netflix is set to release a documentary on the scandal titled "Sign Stealer" on Aug. 27. Stalions was among those interviewed for the film.

"I’m not worried about it," McMichael said, per Goricki's report. "What happened with the NCAA doesn’t concern us here at Mumford. He comes here every day and gives 120%, and the kids all love him and we’re all learning from him."

College football fans won't soon forget the name Connor Stalions, and many will always view him negatively. The former Wolverines analyst is doing his best to put the scandal behind him quickly and prepare for another football season on the sideline.