Former Michigan football coach Matt Weiss charged in 24-count indictment

The U.S. Attorney’s office announced in a press release Thursday that former Michigan football coach Matt Weiss, 42, of Ann Arbor, has been charged in a 24-count indictment. According to the indictment, Weiss “gained unauthorized access to student athlete databases of more than 100 colleges and universities” and “downloaded the personally identifiable information and medical data of more than 150,000 athletes”.

Ex-Michigan football coach indicted for hacking computers of student-athletes

Weiss was hired under Jim Harbaugh in 2021 as a quarterbacks coach and was promoted to co-offensive coordinator in 2022. He was fired in January of 2023 two weeks after being placed on leave for reports of computer-access crimes at Schembechler Hall (U-of-M football building).

The indictment alleges that Weiss began his scheme in 2015 when he was coaching under John Harbaugh for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. 

New: Michigan basketball readies for NCAA tournament opener against UC San Diego

“Using the information that he obtained from the student athlete databases and his own internet research, Weiss was able to obtain access to the social media, email, and/or cloud storage accounts of more than 2,000 target athletes,” the indictment reads. “Weiss also illegally obtained access to the social media, email, and/or cloud storage accounts of more than 1,300 additional students and/or alumni from universities across the country.

“Once Weiss obtained access to these accounts, he downloaded personal, intimate digital photographs and videos that were never intended to be shared beyond intimate partners.”

More information on the charges

• 14 counts of unauthorized access to computers – maximum five years of prison on each count
• 10 counts of aggravated identity theft – maximum two years of prison on each count

If convicted of aggravated identity theft, Weiss faces a mandatory two-year sentence.

More: Max Bredeson looking to ‘be a face’ for newcomers, lead Michigan football ‘however it has to be done’

“Today’s indictment of Matthew Weiss underscores the commitment and meticulous investigative efforts of our law enforcement professionals,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI Detroit Cyber Task Force, in close collaboration with the University of Michigan Police Department, worked relentlessly on this case to safeguard and protect our community.”

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms