NFL coach Jim Harbaugh and several officials from the University of Michigan have been added to a lawsuit. This lawsuit pertains to allegations against a former assistant coach, accused of hacking into the computer accounts of college athletes nationwide to search for personal photos.
The accusations suggest that Harbaugh, then Michigan’s coach, and others were aware that Matt Weiss was observed accessing private information from a computer in December 2022. Yet, Weiss was permitted to continue his duties as co-offensive coordinator for a national playoff game approximately a week later.
The University of Michigan’s athletic director, Warde Manuel, and other officials have been included in the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Detroit. The delay by the university in taking protective action until after the game is seen as a clear indication that student welfare was not the priority, according to lead lawyer Parker Stinar.
Weiss has been charged separately with identity theft and unauthorized computer access from 2015 to 2023. The indictment alleges he gained access to the social media, email, and cloud storage accounts of over 2,000 college athletes and more than 1,300 students or alumni from various U.S. schools. The primary target of his search: private images, mainly of women. Weiss has pleaded not guilty.
The lawsuit contends that had Harbaugh implemented basic oversight of his staff, the plaintiffs and the class could have been protected against individuals like Weiss. Instead, Weiss, a well-compensated asset, was promoted within the football program, enabling him to target female student athletes.
A staff member noticed Weiss viewing private information at the football team’s headquarters, Schembechler Hall, around December 21, 2022, and reported it before Michigan’s playoff game against Texas Christian University on December 31. Weiss was subsequently dismissed in January 2023 during an investigation into his computer use.
Earlier this year, following the filing of charges, Harbaugh told reporters that he was unaware of Weiss’ problems until after the playoff game, describing the allegations as “shocking.” Weiss had previously worked for Harbaugh’s brother, John, on the coaching staff of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens before joining the Michigan team in 2021.
Weiss’ university computer contained encryption software that had to be disabled by an external vendor as part of the investigation. In April, authorities revealed that thousands of private photos and videos were discovered on his electronic devices and cloud storage accounts.
The facts, as we now know them, raise important questions about the role and responsibility of those in charge of our student athletes’ welfare. As this case unfolds, we are reminded of the importance of staying informed and vigilant.
