The legal saga surrounding former Michigan assistant coach Matt Weiss raises troubling questions about digital privacy and athletic integrity in American universities.
Key Takeaways
- Matt Weiss faces charges for hacking personal accounts of thousands of athletes, primarily women, at universities across the country.
- The charges include unauthorized computer access and identity theft from 2015 to early 2023.
- A lawsuit has been filed against Weiss, the University of Michigan, and others, seeking class-action status.
- Victims allege institutional negligence and misconduct by Weiss and affiliated entities.
- Weiss pled not guilty, was released on bond, and faces potential prison time if convicted.
Allegations of Unauthorized Access
Matt Weiss, a former assistant coach at both the Baltimore Ravens and University of Michigan, faces severe accusations of hacking into the accounts of over 3,300 athletes. The illegal data access extended from 2015 until his dismissal in early 2023. His actions allegedly targeted female college athletes, driven by their affiliation, history, and physical attributes to obtain private images.
The legal counts against Weiss are a staggering 24, including unauthorized computer access and aggravated identity theft. Victims claim that their private data was stolen from databases managed by Keffer Development Services across 100 educational institutions.
A judge entered a not-guilty plea Monday for former Michigan assistant football coach Matt Weiss, who is charged with hacking into the computer accounts of thousands of college athletes to find intimate images, primarily of women. https://t.co/4dkgQuCFn4
— WTOL 11 (@WTOL11Toledo) March 25, 2025
Institutional Implications
The data breach has propelled a collective lawsuit, spearheaded by former athletes, against the University of Michigan and Weiss. Allegations include institutional negligence for failing to monitor Weiss effectively. The university and its regents are named defendants, amid claims of privacy invasion impacting potentially over 1,000 class members.
The allegations against Weiss are compounded by broader accusations against affiliated parties, including claims against Keffer Development Services for failing to secure sensitive athlete data.
Two more former University of Michigan female athletes have filed a class-action lawsuit against the university, its board of regents & former OC Matt Weiss after Weiss was indicted on complaints of accessing intimate photos of thousands of students.
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— The Athletic CFB (@TheAthleticCFB) March 27, 2025
Legal Proceedings and Defense
Weiss’s legal journey continues; he maintains his innocence, pleads not guilty, and currently remains free on a $10,000 bond. His statement reflects respect for the university, while expressing frustration at the charges. The ramifications of the case stretch across multiple states, challenging digital privacy norms in collegiate sports.
The impending trial is expected to scrutinize Weiss’s methods and motives, alongside the accountability of major educational institutions in safeguarding student data.
Sources:
- Former NFL coach pleads not guilty over alleged hacking of athletes’ intimate photos | NFL | The Guardian
- Alleged victim in former Michigan coach hacking case speaks out: ‘They have betrayed me’ – ABC News
- Lawsuit filed against former Michigan coach in alleged hacking case – ABC News
