NCAA Alleges Ex-CMU Staff Shared Signals for UM

**Former Central Michigan Coaches Face NCAA Sanctions in Michigan Sign-Stealing Probe**

**YPSILANTI, Mich.** – Former Central Michigan University head football coach Jim McElwain, along with his ex-assistants Chris Culmer and Chip Polian, are now confronting proposed suspensions from the NCAA. These potential penalties stem from their alleged involvement in the extensive sign-stealing scandal that has engulfed the University of Michigan’s football program.

The trio received formal “notices of allegations” from the NCAA, outlining accusations that they shared details of Central Michigan’s offensive and defensive signals with Connor Stalions, a low-level Michigan staffer at the time, before CMU’s game against Michigan on September 7, 2022. Stalions is widely believed to have orchestrated Michigan’s illicit in-person scouting operation, which is at the heart of the broader investigation.

For McElwain, who currently serves as head coach at Eastern Michigan University, the NCAA is recommending a Level II violation. This proposed punishment includes a one-game suspension for the upcoming 2024 season and a two-year “show-cause” order. Culmer and Polian face the identical proposed penalties. A “show-cause” order is a significant sanction, requiring any NCAA institution wishing to hire the individual during the specified period to demonstrate to the NCAA why they should not also face penalties if the coach commits another violation.

The allegations detail that McElwain, Culmer, and Polian provided information on CMU’s signs directly to Stalions. This alleged act of sharing sensitive strategic information is seen by the NCAA as a breach of ethical conduct and competitive integrity.

It’s important to note that these are proposed sanctions, not final verdicts. All three individuals retain the right to negotiate with the NCAA’s enforcement staff or to present their case before the NCAA Committee on Infractions, which would then issue a final ruling.

This specific set of allegations against the former CMU coaches is an extension of the NCAA’s comprehensive investigation into the University of Michigan. That broader probe saw the NCAA issue an initial notice of allegations to the Wolverines on January 19, 2024, citing “impermissible in-person scouting and impermissible electronic surveillance.” Michigan’s head coach, Jim Harbaugh, already served a three-game suspension handed down by the Big Ten Conference during the 2023 season related to his involvement in the broader sign-stealing issue, although the NCAA’s enforcement process is separate.

The scandal first erupted in October 2023, leading to widespread scrutiny of Michigan’s program and the integrity of competitive play in college football. The NCAA’s continued pursuit of individuals involved underscores its commitment to upholding fair play rules, even as the landscape of college athletics continues to evolve.

Eastern Michigan University has not yet issued a statement regarding McElwain’s notice of allegations. Attempts to reach McElwain, Culmer, and Polian for comment were not immediately successful. The resolution of these cases will add another chapter to one of college football’s most significant recent controversies.