Detroit’s Shocking Hack: Former Michigan Coach Allegedly Breached Athlete Privacy
In a startling development that has sent shockwaves through the college sports community, former NFL and University of Michigan assistant football coach Matt Weiss has been indicted for allegedly hacking into the accounts of thousands of college athletes in pursuit of intimate photos and videos. The charges, filed in federal court in Detroit, detail a troubling narrative of unauthorized access and identity theft against Weiss, who served as co-offensive coordinator at Michigan until his termination in 2023.
The indictment outlines 14 counts of unauthorized computer access and 10 counts of identity theft, revealing a disturbing pattern of behavior that reportedly spanned from 2015 to 2023. During that time, Weiss is said to have gained unauthorized entry into the databases of over 100 colleges and universities through a third-party service, Keffer Development Services. The implications are staggering; it’s estimated that he accessed personal information and medical data for more than 150,000 athletes.
Characterized in the indictment as a skilled hacker, Weiss allegedly “cracked the encryption protecting the passwords” using research he conducted online. This allowed him to infiltrate the social media, email, and cloud storage accounts of over 2,000 athletes, as well as an additional 1,300 students and alumni from various institutions across the nation.
What stands out in the charges is the focus of his purported activities—according to the indictment, Weiss specifically targeted female college athletes. He reportedly conducted extensive research based on their academic affiliations, athletic histories, and physical characteristics, with the explicit intent to obtain private photographs and videos meant solely for intimate partners. This deceptive and predatory approach paints a grim picture of exploitation within the realm of college sports.
The disturbing details do not end there; Weiss allegedly kept meticulous notes on the materials he downloaded, reflecting on the bodies and preferences of those he victimized and sometimes returning years later in search of new images. Such behavior raises significant concerns about safety and privacy in the increasingly digital world of college athletics.
Addressing the situation, Julie Beck, the acting U.S. attorney in Detroit, asserted a commitment to prosecuting computer hacking aggressively in order to safeguard the private accounts of citizens. This response highlights a crucial need for vigilance and accountability, particularly in an era where digital privacy is paramount.
Weiss had a notable coaching career, having spent over a decade with the Baltimore Ravens under coach John Harbaugh before taking his talents to Michigan to work alongside Jim Harbaugh. It’s worth noting that scrutiny around Weiss had been building for two years prior to the indictment, with police searching his Ann Arbor home in January 2023, shortly before his dismissal. At that time, he claimed to be cooperating with investigations and expressed hope for a resolution.
As this case unfolds, the impact on college sports will undoubtedly be profound, eliciting conversations about privacy, security, and the broader responsibilities that come with coaching and supporting young athletes. The gravity of these allegations has the potential to reshape perspectives on the importance of protecting student athletes, emphasizing a collective responsibility to shield them from such egregious violations of trust.
