Former Michigan Coach Indicted for Hacking Athlete Databases Across 100+ Colleges

A former University of Michigan assistant football coach, Matthew Weiss, has been indicted on 24 federal charges for hacking into the student-athlete databases of over 100 colleges and universities, accessing medical data of 150,000 people, and compromising private accounts of athletes.

Weiss, who was Michigan’s co-offensive coordinator, allegedly targeted female college athletes, using stolen credentials and security loopholes to access private photographs, videos, and medical records. Prosecutors claim he systematically tracked certain women, returning to breached accounts months or years later.

The FBI and the University of Michigan Police led the investigation, uncovering that Weiss used password-cracking techniques and data breaches to infiltrate accounts. He faces up to five years per hacking charge and two years per identity theft charge if convicted.

Michigan fired Weiss in January 2023, citing an internal review but provided no further comment on the indictment. The Justice Department emphasized its commitment to prosecuting cybercrime and protecting individuals from unauthorized access to personal data.