The University of Michigan’s football program has been one of the best in the country for the last several decades, winning national championships and producing dozens of successful players.
The team has been a standard-bearer in the Big Ten, both within the conference and on the national state. The Wolverines won the national championship after the 2023 season, but a member of the program who was fired before that season began is now in serious legal trouble.
Former Michigan co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss has been indicted by the federal government. Weiss’ indictment accuses him of hacking into college athletes’ personal accounts in order to obtain intimate photos and videos.
Weiss is alleged to have accessed a database of over 100 student-athletes that was managed by a third party.
The former coach had access to personal information and medical data, and he allegedly used that information to access social media accounts, emails and cloud storage. Once inside the accounts, Weiss allegedly accessed content “that [was] never intended to be shared beyond intimate partners,” according to prosecutors.
Weiss was fired in January of 2022 after the Detroit News revealed an ongoing investigation into computer crimes within the football team’s offices.
Weiss has officially been charged with 24 counts – 14 for unauthorized access to computers and 10 for aggravated identity theft.
The computer charges carry up to five years of potential imprisonment for each, while the identify theft charges are up to two years each.
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“I have nothing but respect for the University of Michigan and the people who make it such a great place,” Weiss said after he was fired.
“I look forward to putting this matter behind me and returning my focus to the game that I love.”
Weiss has worked for both Jim and John Harbaugh. with the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens as well as stops with the Stanford Cardinal.
The Wolverines missed out on the first-ever 12-team playoff last season, but they were able to keep up their winning streak against Rival Ohio State intact for at least one more season. We’ll see what the future holds for Michigan in Year 2 of the Sherrone Moore era.
Related: Report: College Football Coach Accused Of ‘Bullying’ Female Staffers
