Connor Stalions, a lifelong Michigan Wolverines fan, always dreamed of coaching his beloved team.
As a child, he idolized Bo Schembechler and planned every step of his career to follow in his footsteps. But just as he started working on the University of Michigan sidelines, the team’s success came under question due to accusations of sign stealing. By the time they won the National Championship in January 2024 for the first time since 1997, evidence against him piled up, leading to his departure from the team.
“They dragged my name in the mud, they dragged Michigan’s name in the mud for months,” Connor says in UNTOLD: Sign Stealer. “My whole life changed.”
Who is Connor Stalions?
“Connor has always been a very focused, driven kid,” his dad, Brock Stalions, says in the documentary. From a young age, he wanted to coach at the University of Michigan. Home videos show him dressed as a Michigan coach for Halloween, celebrating team victories. As a teen, he learned that many top college coaches had military backgrounds, so he joined the Naval Academy. There, he became a student coach and excelled at decoding opponents’ signals, helping improve the Naval Midshipmen’s record significantly.
Is sign stealing allowed in college football?
Decoding signals during a game or from recorded footage is allowed, according to the NCAA. When Connor attended a Michigan coaches clinic, he shared his experience with signal deciphering from his time at the Naval Academy. In 2018, while stationed at Camp Pendleton, he traveled across the country at his own expense to watch Michigan games and study opposing teams’ signals. “Any employer and any person who has a dream would be blessed to have somebody with Stalions’ tenacity as a part of their team,” UNTOLD: Sign Stealer director Micah Brown tells Tudum.
A friend later introduced him to a network of sign-stealing enthusiasts. He soon realized that Michigan’s coaching staff was outmatched by other teams adept at deciphering signals. In 2021, he officially joined the Wolverines’ coaching staff.
What happened to the Michigan Wolverines after Connor Stalions was hired?
Before Connor’s hiring, Michigan’s football record was inconsistent. In 2019, they finished 9-4, third in the Big Ten, losing to Alabama in the Citrus Bowl. The 2020 season was shortened due to the pandemic, ending with a 2-4 record. By 2021, when Connor joined, the team was transitioning. Given resources to analyze opponents’ signals, he created databases and maps to aid Michigan’s performance. In 2022, Michigan went 13-1 but lost to TCU in the semi-finals. In 2023, they began with multiple straight wins.
But in October, the NCAA announced an investigation into rule violations regarding sign stealing. They claimed Connor sent people to scout and film rival teams’ signals, which is against NCAA rules. Rival fans demanded Michigan’s wins be scrutinized, leading to Connor’s suspension with pay. After stepping down, he stated that Michigan coaches and staff had not broken any rules.
We hope everything works out for everyone involved.
What happened after Connor Stalions left University of Michigan?
With the NCAA’s investigation underway, media and fans delved into Connor’s past. After his suspension, rumors about him died down until someone resembling him was seen on Central Michigan’s sidelines. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy claimed Connor confirmed it was him. Connor responded ambiguously in UNTOLD: “If there is no good guy and bad guy, it’s like the world doesn’t really exist as black-and-white,” director Brown explains. “It exists a lot in the gray.” Connor adds, “I don’t break the rules. I exploit them.”
The investigation led to a three-game suspension for head coach Jim Harbaugh, but Michigan kept winning under offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore. Fans of Michigan’s rivals continued digging for dirt, creating memes about Connor’s tactics.
“Sports are fascinating because people form alliances,” Brown says. “They want to cheer for something and escape regular life.”
How did the NCAA learn about Connor Stalions?
As rumors spread that Michigan paid people to scout signs nationwide, some wondered who tipped off the NCAA. A third-party firm provided the NCAA with a packet of information, including some of Connor’s documents, sparking theories of a plot against Michigan.
Although Connor wasn’t part of the team when they won the 2024 National Championship, he was happy to see their victory. Some believe the win is tainted until the NCAA completes its investigation. In April, Connor agreed to an interview with the NCAA, featured in UNTOLD. His legal team questioned the legitimacy of the evidence against him.
On August 25, 2024, the NCAA issued a Notice of Allegations seeking a three-year coaching ban for Connor. He plans to challenge this. The NCAA also accused Michigan of institutional violations and advanced sign stealing. The 2024 season now includes in-helmet communication, reducing the need for sign stealing.
Where is Connor Stalions now?
Connor remains active in football, coaching at a Michigan high school.
“You can’t teach people to care,” Brown tells Tudum, praising Connor’s dedication. “You can teach skills, but caring is innate. Whatever Connor does next, he’ll be wildly successful.”
Watch UNTOLD: Sign Stealer on Netflix now.