In 1978, the Big Eight Conference initiated an investigation into the Oklahoma State University football program in response to allegations of violations of several NCAA rules and regulations while Stanley was head coach.

Stanley successfully filed suit against the conference to require them to provide various due process protections in their final hearing on the charges.

[1] A decade later, however, the United States Supreme Court, in a case involving UNLV head basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, held that the 14th Amendment's due process guarantees were not applicable to the NCAA and similar athletic organizations since their investigations do not amount to the requisite action necessary for the constitutional protections to apply.

[2] Stanley served as the defensive line coach for the New York Giants in 1979 and the Atlanta Falcons from 1980 to 1982 before moving to the USFL.

Management addressed the issue by signing a bevy of experienced offensive linemen: Tyrone McGriff and Thom Dornbrook of the New York Giants and Ray Pinney of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Panthers were eliminated in the first round by Steve Young's Los Angeles Express, 27–21, in a hard-fought, triple-overtime game.

Following the vote, the Panthers delegation surprised the league owners and commissioner by announcing the team would be merged with the Oakland Invaders in a pre-negotiated conditional deal.

He was a defensive coach for the Houston Oilers for six years before joining the Arizona Cardinals' player personnel department.