Detroit – NFL coach Jim Harbaugh has found himself in a challenging situation as he was added to a lawsuit against the University of Michigan and a former assistant football coach. This legal action arises from allegations that Matt Weiss, the accused coach, hacked into the computer accounts of college athletes to search for intimate photos.
According to attorneys involved, Harbaugh, who was head coach at Michigan, was aware of Weiss’s suspicious activities. Specifically, they claim that a staff member observed Weiss looking at private information on a computer back in December 2022, but he was still allowed to work as the co-offensive coordinator during a crucial national playoff game just days later.
Along with Harbaugh, Michigan’s athletic director Warde Manuel and other officials have been included in the lawsuit filed in federal court in Detroit. Lead attorney Parker Stinar emphasized that the university’s lack of timely action reflects a troubling priority: “Student welfare was secondary.” Notably, Weiss has already been charged with identity theft and unauthorized computer access, affecting more than 2,000 college athletes and over 1,300 students or alumni from various schools across the country.
The lawsuit asserts that Harbaugh’s failure to oversee his staff contributed to the vulnerability of student-athletes like the plaintiffs involved. It states, “Had Harbaugh implemented basic oversight of his staff, plaintiffs and the class would have been protected against predators such as Weiss.” Instead, Weiss was described as a “highly compensated asset” who was able to exploit his position within the football program.
Reports indicate that Weiss was caught accessing confidential information at Schembechler Hall around December 21, 2022, yet he remained in his role during the playoff game against Texas Christian University on December 31. Weiss was ultimately fired a few weeks later during an investigation into his activities. In previous statements, Harbaugh claimed he was unaware of any issues regarding Weiss until after the playoff game, calling the allegations “shocking.”
The investigation into Weiss reveals disturbing findings, including thousands of intimate photos and videos stored on his devices and cloud accounts. The electronic devices were found to contain encryption software that required intervention from an external vendor to disable as part of the inquiry.
This lawsuit is a reminder of the critical importance of safeguarding student welfare in athletic programs and raises significant questions about oversight and responsibility at the University of Michigan.
