University of Michigan athletics performance science expert arrested barefoot, bloody after crash

Police say Fergus Connelly acted erratically after found near crash scene

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A University of Michigan athletics staff member was arrested last week after officers said he was acting erratically near the scene of a crash.

Fergus Connelly has a doctorate and was director of performance science for the Michigan football team. Now he's under the microscope of the Ann Arbor police.

UPDATEFormer athletics staffer no longer employed at University of Michigan after arrest

Connelly is a performance science expert who was handpicked by head coach Jim Harbaugh to come to U of M from the San Francisco 49ers.

But Connelly was involved with what Ann Arbor police called a bizarre episode before noon last Monday.

Police said calls came flooding in after several parked cars were hit by the driver of a dealer-issued Chevy Tahoe. Officers want to know if the Tahoe belongs to the University of Michigan.

While police were at the scene, another call for a person acting erratically came in from down the street. Connelly was found standing in a snowbank with no shoes on and blood on his feet.

Police said Connelly was uncooperative and allegedly threatened an officer.

Police got a warrant for Connelly's blood sample, and they said his erratic behavior continued at the hospital.

Connelly makes $250,000 per year in his role with Michigan athletics. Police want to know what caused him to behave erratically.


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Local 4 Defender Shawn Ley is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has been with Local 4 News for more than a decade.

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.

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