Former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions after first win as interim HS coach: 'Hopefully, it's a snowball effect'

It will be hard for former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions to not be known for his role as the lead perpetrator in the Wolverines’ sign-stealing scandal that took place amid their national championship-winning season last year. But following his resignation from the program last year, he’s recently taken a step in making a new name for himself.

After volunteering to be the defensive coordinator of Detroit Mumford High School in Michigan, Stalions was chosen as interim head coach after head coach William McMichael suffered a stroke. Stalions subsequently led the team to their first victory of the season on Thursday in a 16-8 win over Western International and breaking a six-game losing streak that dates back to October of 2023.

“It feels great for the guys, they hadn’t won many games the last few years and we’ve held them to a very high standard that’s a big shock for them. A culture shock,” Stalions said after the game. “Seeing them finally get a win, now they have a lot to look forward to when they practice and hopefully it’s just a snowball effect here.”

Mumford has had just one win in each of their past two seasons, a trend they’ll look to change with just two games remaining on their schedule this year. A record that’s much different than the Michigan program Stalions grew up obsessing over and eventually joining as a staff member as a volunteer in 2022.

Stalions’ resignation from the program followed the launching of an NCAA investigation centered around advanced scouting that he was in the middle of. An investigation that is still ongoing and has been widely documented, including Netflix’s releasing an Untold documentary episode titled “Sign Stealer” that featured Stalions and premiered in August.

In the documentary, Stalions made it clear that his dream is to become a head coach. Showing his chops with an inspired postgame speech to his team following their big win on Thursday.

“Think about what happened today,” Stalions told his team. “Everything you did, attention to detail. We controlled tempo, we communicated very well on defense, we moved with a fricking purpose 24/7 today. When you guys stepped on that field, you fricking move with a purpose. So now you are no longer a losing team. You have won.”

“That means you get tomorrow off and then on Monday is the best practice of your lives, because you’re going to practice like winners, and you’re going to practice with attention to detail and an effort, like you’ve never practiced before.”

Detroit Mumford takes on Southeastern in their next matchup as Stalions will look to get the second win of his head coaching career.