Federal prosecutors have charged former NFL and University of Michigan football coach Matt Weiss in a shocking hacking case involving thousands of college athletes. According to an indictment unsealed Thursday, Weiss illegally accessed sensitive personal data, including intimate photos and videos, in a scheme that spanned several years.
Weiss, once a respected coach who spent over a decade with the Baltimore Ravens, now faces 14 counts of unauthorized computer access and 10 counts of identity theft. The charges were filed in Detroit’s federal court, revealing a disturbing pattern of online intrusion targeting college athletes across the country.
A Digital Invasion Driven by Obsession
Authorities say Weiss’s hacking spree began as early as 2015 and continued until 2023. During that time, he allegedly broke into the secured databases of more than 100 colleges and universities. These databases, managed by Keffer Development Services, stored private medical records and personal details of over 150,000 athletes.
According to the 14-page indictment, Weiss wasn’t just exploiting a system flaw — he actively cracked encrypted passwords, guided by extensive research he did online. With full access to these platforms, Weiss took his scheme further. He allegedly hacked into the social media, email, and cloud storage accounts of more than 2,000 athletes, alongside an additional 1,300 students and alumni from various schools nationwide.
The indictment revealed that Weiss primarily targeted female college athletes. Prosecutors claim he carefully researched his victims, choosing them based on their school, athletic achievements, and physical appearance. His goal, investigators said, was to secretly collect intimate photos and videos meant only for private partners.
Shockingly, the indictment also describes how Weiss kept personal notes about the images he stole — documenting the athletes’ bodies, preferences, and even returning years later to search for new content.
Fallout From the Matt Weiss Hacking Case
Federal officials are taking the Matt Weiss hacking case seriously, vowing swift action. Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck of Detroit emphasized the importance of safeguarding personal online accounts. “Our office will move aggressively to prosecute computer hacking to protect the private accounts of our citizens,” Beck stated.
Weiss was fired by the University of Michigan in 2023 after refusing to cooperate with the school’s internal investigation into his unauthorized computer access. At the time, Weiss had been serving as co-offensive coordinator under head coach Jim Harbaugh — brother of John Harbaugh, his former boss at the Baltimore Ravens.
The scandal first came to light in January 2023 when police searched Weiss’s Ann Arbor home. At the time, Weiss claimed he was cooperating and hoped the matter would soon be resolved. However, the indictment released Thursday paints a very different picture — one of deliberate hacking, identity theft, and a deep invasion of privacy.
The filing also highlighted how long the investigation had been underway, confirming that Weiss had been under scrutiny for two years before the charges were officially brought. Despite multiple attempts to reach Weiss’s attorney, Doug Mullkoff, for comment, no response has been received.
Weiss’s initial court appearance has yet to be scheduled, but the charges — if proven — could result in significant prison time.
The Matt Weiss hacking case marks a dark chapter for a once-prominent coach. With federal prosecutors committed to pursuing justice, the case serves as a chilling reminder of how digital platforms can be weaponized to violate personal privacy — especially for those in the public eye.
