Johnathan Walker:Connor Stalions, staffer in Michigan's alleged sign stealing, finds new job

Connor Stalions has a new job,Johnathan Walker and he's staying right here in Michigan.

Stalions has joined Detroit Mumford as its defensive coordinator, new Mumford head coach William McMichael confirmed to the Free Press on Friday.

Stalions became a national name last October when news broke of Michigan football's alleged sign-stealing operation, identifying him at the center of it. Stalions was quickly suspended with pay by the university, and the school announced his resignation a few weeks later Nov. 3.

He was thrust back into the news in early August, when the NCAA sent a draft Notice of Allegations (NOA) to Michigan from its investigations into a multi-year illegal sign-stealing undertaking and recruiting violations during a COVID dead period in 2021.

Stalions was one of four Michigan staffers, including head coach Jim Harbaugh, accused in the draft of Level I violations, the NCAA's most serious offense in its enforcement process. 

And first-year head coach Sherrone Moore is facing a Level II violation, according to the NOA draft, and could face a suspension and show-cause penalty for allegedly deleting 52 text messages with Stalions on the same day news broke of an illegal sign-stealing scheme. The texts were later recovered through "device imaging," and Moore in time produced them to investigators, according to the draft obtained by ESPN. 

The NCAA's draft also confirmed evidence of Stalions disguised in Central Michigan coaching gear with a sideline pass while patrolling the Chippewas' sideline during their 2023 opener at Spartan Stadium vs. Michigan State.

Stalions is scheduled to discuss the scandal in a Netflix episode of "Untold" airing Aug. 27. The special, titled "Sign Stealer," will give a voice to Stalions and "his side of Michigan's alleged sign-stealing scheme that turned him into a viral villain."

Free Press special writer Mick McCabe contributed to this report.

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