Central Michigan AD responds to report of staff changes weeks before 2024 season begins

After a report emerged that Central Michigan is shaking up its coaching staff just weeks before the 2024 season, top brass at the school has responded.

FootballScoop.com reported that coach Jim McElwain made a number of moves on his offensive staff, including elevating an off-the-field staffer into the role of quarterbacks coach, a role previously occupied by Jake Kostner.

Kostner is “not expected to remain with the Chips,” and though Central Michigan’s official response did not name anyone, the response is telling.

“Central Michigan does not comment on ongoing personnel matters,” athletics director Amy Folan said in a statement released to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg. “The NCAA investigation is still ongoing. We will continue to cooperate and look forward to a resolution.”

The investigation Folan is likely referring to is the NCAA investigation into alleged sign-stealing by Michigan and former Wolverines staffer Connor Stalions. Stalions was reportedly sighted on the sideline of a Central Michigan game last fall, on Sept. 1 — a game against the Michigan State Spartans, who would later appear on Michigan’s schedule.

But what connections might have been used to secure that sideline access have largely remained a mystery.

During the 2023 season, McElwain personally commented on the ongoing investigation into how Stalions might have been allowed access to the sidelines.

“Before we go any further, we obviously are aware of a picture floating around with the sign-stealer guy,” McElwain said, according to reporter Kennedy Broadwell. “Our people are doing everything they can to get to the bottom of it. We were totally unaware of it. I certainly don’t condone it in any way, shape or form.

“I do know that his name was on none of the passes that were let out. Now we just keep tracing it back and tracing it back and try to figure it out. But it’s in good hands with our people. And again, there’s no place in football for that.”

Central Michigan also released a statement about the alleged photo of Stalions after it surfaced.

“We became aware of these photos late yesterday and we are in the process of determining the facts surrounding them,” the statement read. “As this process is ongoing, we have no further comment at this time.”

According to a report from TheWolverine.com, the NCAA is expected to release its Notice of Allegations on the sign-stealing investigation shortly, possibly as soon as this week.