Connor Patrick Stalions emerged from Marine Corps service to become a central figure in college football's most controversial scandal, transforming from a low-level analyst into a national headline during Michigan's 2023 championship season. Born on July 27, 1995, in Houston, Texas, to Michigan alumni Brock and Kelly Stalions, Connor grew up in Lake Orion, Michigan, where he played football and basketball at Lake Orion High School, winning the 2010 MHSAA state football championship.
Stalions graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2017, serving as a student coach for Ken Niumatalolo's Navy Midshipmen program. He commissioned as a Marine Corps Logistics Officer, stationed at Camp Pendleton, California, reaching the rank of Captain before his honorable discharge in 2022. Joining Michigan as a volunteer assistant (2018-2021), then as a defensive analyst (May 2022-October 2023), Stalions contributed to the recruiting department and defensive staff during three consecutive Big Ten Championships and the 2023 National Championship. However, an NCAA investigation revealed Stalions orchestrated an elaborate advanced scouting operation violating NCAA Bylaw 11.6.1 prohibiting in-person opponent scouting. Purchasing tickets exceeding $35,000 across 52 games at 11 Big Ten schools over three years, Stalions created a network he called "KGB," obtaining what he termed "dirty film." The investigation became public on October 18, 2023. Stalions resigned on November 3, maintaining that neither head coach Jim Harbaugh nor the staff knew of his improper conduct. The NCAA issued an eight-year show-cause order on August 15, 2025; Stalions's appeal was denied on February 11, 2026, affirming all findings.
Transitioning to high school coaching, Stalions served as the Detroit Mumford defensive coordinator (2024) before Belleville High School hired him as offensive coordinator for the playoffs. The Tigers defeated Ann Arbor Pioneer 68-0 and fourth-ranked Saline 42-7 before losing the regional championship. During his tenure, five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood and recruit Elijah Dotson both flipped their commitments to Michigan. The Netflix documentary "Untold: Sign Stealer" premiered on August 27, 2024, featuring Stalions defending his methods while maintaining that advanced scouting offered "minimal competitive advantage." Michigan received NCAA penalties exceeding $30 million in fines alongside suspensions for current coach Sherrone Moore and a 10-year show-cause for Harbaugh.
