Former Michigan Coach Matt Weiss Indicted on Cybercrime Charges

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Matt Weiss, a former co-offensive coordinator for the Michigan Wolverines football team, has been placed on leave amid serious allegations of cybercrime, a team spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday. The indictment comes after Weiss was previously terminated from his position in January 2023.

The Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Julie Beck, announced on Thursday that Weiss faces a total of 24 charges, including 14 counts of unauthorized access to computers and 10 counts of aggravated identity theft. His alleged illicit activities reportedly span from 2015 until his firing.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Weiss is accused of infiltrating student-athlete databases at over 100 colleges and universities. Authorities claim he accessed and downloaded sensitive personal information, including medical data, of more than 150,000 athletes. Furthermore, Weiss allegedly exploited this information to unlawfully access social media, email, and cloud storage accounts belonging to over 2,000 athletes as well as more than 1,300 students or alumni from various institutions.

Investigators assert that Weiss targeted individuals specifically, often focusing on female college athletes by conducting research based on their school affiliations and athletic backgrounds. The criminal complaint states he aimed to acquire personal and intimate digital photographs and videos that were intended for private sharing.

“Our office will move aggressively to prosecute computer hacking to protect the private accounts of our citizens,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Beck. “We stand ready with our law enforcement partners to bring those who illegally invade the privacy of others to justice.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson emphasized the collaborative effort, stating, “Today’s indictment of Matthew Weiss underscores the commitment and meticulous investigative efforts of our law enforcement professionals. 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.”

Reports indicate the FBI joined the investigation in October 2023, following a tip received by the University of Michigan about suspicious activity involving unauthorized access to university email accounts.

The ongoing investigation continues to raise concerns about the privacy and safety of individuals associated with collegiate athletics, highlighting the pressing issue of cyber security in today’s digital age.