Central Michigan quarterbacks coach Jake Kostner has resigned from the staff, according to a letter obtained by The Athletic, a move that may or may not be connected to the ongoing Connor Stalions sign-stealing investigation.
“Please accept this letter as my notice that I have made the decision to part ways with CMU to pursue other opportunities,” Kostner wrote to a school official in an email dated Aug. 31, two days after CMU’s opening game, obtained through a public records request. “My final day will be September 15th, 2024.”
Central Michigan’s relationship to the sign-stealing scandal at Michigan goes back to Week 1 of the 2023 season, when a person who looked similar to Stalions was seen on the CMU sideline during a game at Michigan State, sporting a goatee and wearing CMU coaching gear, sunglasses and a sideline pass. The Central Michigan staff included several former Michigan staffers, including head coach Jim McElwain, defensive backs coach Michael Zordich and Kostner, all of whom worked at Michigan when Stalions volunteered for the Wolverines. Kostner was a Michigan student assistant and graduated in 2018.
McElwain said last year that Stalions’ name was not on any of the sideline passes handed out and he had no idea how the person ended up on the sideline, if it was Stalions. Central Michigan to this point has not said who the person was, citing the ongoing NCAA investigation. Stalions resigned from his role with Michigan last November.
FootballScoop reported in July that Kostner would leave the staff, but CMU at that point said no changes had been made. Around that time, ESPN reported on an NCAA draft notice of allegations for Michigan. A CMU spokesperson said Sunday that Kostner’s coach bio was removed from the staff page on Friday.
“We can confirm Jake Kostner has separated from the institution,” the spokesperson said. “CMU does not comment publicly on personnel matters.”
Stalions told NCAA investigators he did not recall attending the Michigan State-Central Michigan game, as shown in the Netflix documentary about him released on Aug. 27. Stalions also told the documentary interviewers that the person on the sideline didn’t look like him. Within a week of Michigan receiving its notice of allegations and four days after the documentary’s release, Kostner tendered his resignation.
ESPN reported in August that the draft notice of allegations alleged it was Stalions on the CMU sideline but did not say how he obtained a sideline pass.
Central Michigan beat San Diego State 22-21 on Saturday to move to 3-2 on the season. The spokesperson did not say who has filled Kostner’s quarterback coaching duties on staff.
(Photo: Nick King / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
