Harbaugh Hacking Lawsuit: Michigan Assistant
- DETROIT-Jim Harbaugh, now head coach of the los Angeles Chargers, has been named in an amended lawsuit against the University of Michigan.
- The lawsuit claims harbaugh, who coached at Michigan from 2015-2023, and other officials were aware that Weiss viewed private information on a computer in December 2022.Despite this knowledge,...
- warde Manuel, Michigan's athletic director, and other university officials are also named in the federal lawsuit filed in Detroit.
Jim Harbaugh, now with the Los Angeles Chargers, finds himself embroiled in a lawsuit stemming from a hacking scandal during his tenure at the University of Michigan.The core of the legal action centers on allegations against former assistant Matt Weiss, who is accused of illegally accessing student-athlete accounts in search of private photos, highlighting Harbaugh’s potential role.The case examines the university’s response to the situation, scrutinizing its handling of the matter and the role the coach played. The lawsuit also points out the university’s possible lack of actions after the incident. This evolving story, covered by News Directory 3, raises concerns about student welfare and data privacy. Details reveal that Weiss allegedly accessed numerous student accounts. Discover what’s next as this legal drama unfolds.
Harbaugh Faces Lawsuit Over Michigan Role in Hacking Scandal
Updated June 29, 2025
DETROIT-Jim Harbaugh, now head coach of the los Angeles Chargers, has been named in an amended lawsuit against the University of Michigan. The suit centers on allegations that former assistant football coach Matt Weiss illegally accessed computer accounts of college athletes, seeking private photos.
The lawsuit claims harbaugh, who coached at Michigan from 2015-2023, and other officials were aware that Weiss viewed private information on a computer in December 2022.Despite this knowledge, Weiss allegedly continued in his role as co-offensive coordinator, even participating in a high-profile playoff game shortly after the incident.
warde Manuel, Michigan’s athletic director, and other university officials are also named in the federal lawsuit filed in Detroit. The central issue revolves around the university’s response to the alleged misconduct and the role of key figures in addressing the situation. The University of Michigan faces scrutiny over its handling of the matter, notably concerning student welfare and data privacy.
Parker Stinar, the lead attorney in the class-action suit stemming from the criminal investigation of Weiss, stated, “The university’s delay in taking meaningful protective action until after a high-stakes game sends a clear message: Student welfare was secondary.”
Neither manuel nor Harbaugh immediately responded to requests for comment.
Weiss faces charges of identity theft and unauthorized computer access between 2015 and 2023.The indictment alleges he gained access to over 2,000 college athletes’ social media, email, and cloud storage accounts, along with those of more than 1,300 students or alumni from various schools nationwide, seeking private images, primarily of women. He has pleaded not guilty.
The updated lawsuit asserts, “Had Harbaugh implemented basic oversight of his staff, plaintiffs and the class would have been protected against predators such as Weiss. Rather, Weiss was a highly compensated asset that was promoted by and within the football program, from which position he was able to, and did, target female student athletes.” The hacking scandal has raised questions about oversight and accountability within the program.
the lawsuit details that a staff member witnessed Weiss viewing private information at Schembechler Hall, the football team’s headquarters, around dec.21, 2022. This incident was reportedly reported before Michigan’s playoff game against TCU on Dec. 31.
Weiss was fired in January 2023 during an investigation into his computer use. Harbaugh stated earlier this year that he was unaware of Weiss’s actions until after the playoff game,calling the allegations “shocking.”
Before joining michigan in 2021, Weiss worked for Harbaugh’s brother, John, on the Baltimore Ravens’ coaching staff.
Investigators found thousands of intimate photos and videos on Weiss’s electronic devices and cloud storage accounts. The lawsuit also notes that Weiss’s university computer had encryption software that required an external vendor to disable during the investigation.
What’s next
The lawsuit is expected to proceed in federal court in Detroit. Further discovery and legal arguments will likely focus on the extent of Harbaugh’s knowledge and the university’s response to the allegations against Weiss.