Ex-Michigan Coach Indicted for Allegedly Hacking Athletes’ Data for ‘Intimate’ Photos

A former co-offensive coordinator for Michigan, Matt Weiss, has been federally indicted on 24 counts after allegedly hacking into the personal data of thousands of athletes for nearly eight years, prosecutors announced Thursday. The charges include unauthorized computer access and aggravated identity theft.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan disclosed the indictment against Weiss, 42, who was fired by Michigan back in 2023 amid an investigation into these allegations. Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck emphasized her office’s commitment, stating, "Our office will move aggressively to prosecute computer hacking to protect the private accounts of our citizens."

According to the indictment, Weiss allegedly infiltrated databases maintained by a third-party vendor for more than 100 colleges and universities from 2015 to January 2023. Through these actions, Weiss accessed personal information from over 150,000 athletes, including their social media, email, and cloud storage accounts. He then reportedly downloaded "personal, intimate digital photographs and videos" meant to remain private.

The FBI Detroit Cyber Task Force, working alongside the University of Michigan Police Department, is credited with breaking the case open. FBI Special Agent Cheyvoryea Gibson highlighted the "meticulous investigative efforts" behind the indictment, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding privacy in today's digital world.

Weiss faces serious legal consequences, including 14 counts of unauthorized computer access and 10 counts of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, he could spend up to five years in prison for each unauthorized access charge and two years for each count of identity theft.

It’s unsettling to imagine such a betrayal of trust from someone in a position of leadership and influence. The sheer scale of this alleged crime—targeting data from over 150,000 athletes—is jaw-dropping. It also raises questions about the security protocols of the databases involved. Clearly, safeguarding sensitive information needs to be a top priority for institutions handling personal data.

While Weiss’s actions will be dealt with in court, the broader implications of this case touch on the vulnerabilities of digital systems in sports and education settings. It’s a stark reminder that privacy, even for elite athletes, can be alarmingly precarious.