Former Michigan Offensive Coordinator Charged With Hacking Thousands Of College Athletes In Search Of 'Intimate' Content

A shocking turn of events has unfolded in the case of Matthew Weiss, a former Michigan offensive coordinator who was fired by the university in January 2023 following an investigation into "computer access crimes" that took place on campus. Now, we have learned more about the nature of those crimes, which involve a disturbing hacking scheme that targeted thousands of college athletes across the country.

Matthew Weiss, a former punter who played football at Vanderbilt in the early 2000s, had spent over a decade working his way up the ranks with the Baltimore Ravens before joining Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh's staff in 2021. Initially serving as a quarterbacks coach, Weiss was eventually promoted to co-offensive coordinator, a role he held for three seasons.

However, it was during this time that Weiss found himself embroiled in a scandal that would ultimately lead to his termination and prosecution. In the wake of Michigan's loss to TCU in the College Football Playoff, the university placed Weiss on leave due to his alleged links to unspecified computer crimes. It was only later that the full extent of those crimes became clear.

According to the U.S. District Attorney's Office representing the Eastern District of Michigan, Weiss has been charged with 24 crimes, including 14 counts of "unauthorized access to computers" and 10 linked to "aggravated identity theft." The scheme allegedly began as early as 2015, when Weiss was still employed by the Ravens.

Prosecutors claim that Weiss used his position at Michigan to gain unauthorized access to databases containing personally identifiable information and medical data of more than 150,000 athletes. He then used this information to gain access to social media and email accounts, as well as cloud storage files belonging to 2,000 college athletes and 1,300 other students and alumni.

The indictment states that Weiss "primarily targeted female college athletes" in his quest for "personal, intimate digital photographs and videos that were never intended to be shared beyond intimate partners." The FBI was called in to assist with the investigation, working alongside the police department at the University of Michigan to track down evidence.

Weiss faces up to five years in prison for each count of unauthorized access, as well as two years for the identity theft charges. This shocking case highlights the devastating consequences of online harassment and cyberbullying, and serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting athletes' personal data and online safety.