By Avnish Singh 
DETROIT — Connor Stalions has landed his first head coaching role, but under less-than-ideal circumstances. The former Michigan football staffer, now embroiled in an ongoing NCAA investigation, will be stepping in as the acting head coach for Detroit Mumford High School’s football team—at least for tonight’s matchup against Hamady High School in Livonia, Michigan.
Stalions, who previously served as the Mustangs’ volunteer defensive coordinator, was thrust into the head coaching position after Mumford’s head coach, William McMichael, suffered a “mild stroke.” McMichael, who was admitted to the hospital on August 30, just one day after the Mustangs dropped their season opener to Thurston High, confirmed his temporary departure to CBS Sports, saying, “Connor is leading the team now.”
McMichael’s return to coaching remains uncertain, leaving Stalions in charge of the program for the foreseeable future. “I don’t know when I’ll be back,” McMichael said, noting that he spent three days in the hospital following his stroke.
Stalions, who joined Mumford’s coaching staff as a volunteer around Memorial Day, now faces a tough challenge. The Mustangs have struggled mightily, posting a 4-24 record since the start of the 2022 season. With McMichael sidelined, it’s up to Stalions to rally a team that has been desperately seeking improvement.
The former Marine captain rose to notoriety as the central figure in an ongoing NCAA investigation. The NCAA has accused him of masterminding an elaborate advance scouting operation involving Michigan opponents. After receiving the notice of allegations in November of last year, Stalions ultimately resigned from his position with the Wolverines.
Despite the controversy surrounding him, Stalions remains committed to coaching. “It’s about keeping the team bought in,” Stalions said Thursday, following a three-hour practice and meeting session with the Mustangs. However, the squad remains thin, with just 30 players dressed out the day before the game.
Calls and emails to Mumford principal Damon Pitt went unanswered, but it’s clear that Stalions is determined to make the most of his interim opportunity. His ultimate goal? One day becoming the head coach at Michigan. When asked if he still sees a future as a college head coach despite the scandal, Stalions responded, “I would hope.”
For now, the former Wolverines staffer will focus on leading the Mumford Mustangs, trying to steer the beleaguered program back on track, even if only for the short term.
