The Connor Stalions saga has finally been put to rest — at least for Central Michigan football.
The NCAA released its findings into Central Michigan’s involvement in the 2023 Stalions incident on Thursday, Oct. 30, in which they found members of Central Michigan’s staff complicit in helping Stalions, a former assistant coach at Michigan, in stealing signs during a 2023 Central Michigan game against Michigan State.
The NCAA is giving Central Michigan a two-year probation and fining the program $30,000 plus 1% of the football program’s budget. Additionally, it is giving former coach Jim McElwain a two-year show-cause order and a one-year ban from coaching in the first year of his order, plus a four-game suspension in the second year of the order.
McElwain retired from coaching after the 2024 season.
The NCAA is also punishing former Central Michigan assistant coach Jake Kostner, who its report says previously had a relationship with Stalions, for coordinating the plan to get Stalions on the sidelines for the Michigan State game. He received a four-year show-cause order, a ban from coaching in his first season of the order and six-game suspension in the second year of his order.
Kostner was formerly the quarterbacks coach for the Chippewas, a title that has been taken over by current offensive coordinator Jim Chapin.
In aiding Kostner with his plan, former director of recruiting Mike McGee and former director of athletic equipment operations Nate Mason both received two-year show-cause penalties with the same restrictions as McElwain.
The investigation revealed Kostner, Mason and McGee initially gave false information to the NCAA before Kostner and McGee eventually cooperated. Kostner initially denied any involvement with Stalions in 2024 interviews with the NCAA on Jan. 22 and July 1 before requesting to re-interview later that year, revealing on Aug. 12 that he provided false information in his first two interviews.
When asked to provide any electronic communications between him and Stalions, Kostner initially gave the NCAA a phone that had no messages before Nov. 9, 2023, more than two months after the Michigan State game. But in his re-interview, Kostner revealed that he kept his previous phone and gave it to the NCAA investigators.
Among the most interesting bits that came out of the report is Stalions going by the fake name “Matt McClellan” in his dealings with Central Michigan coaches and staffers during the sideline incident.
The investigation revealed that Kostner orchestrated the plan to get Stalions on the sidelines, roping in Mason and McGee to get the necessary equipment to Stalions. Both Mason and McGee were instrumental in providing Stalions a sideline badge and branded equipment to make him look like a Central Michigan staffer, though both denied knowing why they were providing the equipment to Stalions.
The report states that the initial noncompliance from Kostner, Mason and McGee “significantly impacted the timeliness of the investigation,” leading to a late resolution. But the report also said that the program demonstrated “full compliance” in aiding with the investigation, something that Michigan did not initially offer to the NCAA during its own Stalions investigation.
The NCAA in August handed Michigan a four-year probation and a fine of $50,000 plus 10% of the football program’s budget in relation to the scandal, while also handing coach Sherrone Moore an additional one-game suspension for his role in the affair, which he is expected to serve next season in Michigan’s opening game against Western Michigan.
Michigan initially challenged the ruling before dropping its appeal.
Michigan State President Kevin Guskiewicz and athletic director J Batt released the following joint statement on Thursday in response to the news:
“Michigan State University acknowledges Central Michigan University’s accountability for actions which negatively impacted our football program and student-athletes. We accept the apology from President Neil MacKinnon and Director of Athletics Amy Folan, and appreciate their commitment to addressing the issue directly and communication to the extent permitted throughout the process.”
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: NCAA punishes Central Michigan for role in Connor Stalions sign-stealing saga
Reporting by Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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