Harbaugh Joins Lawsuit Against Former Assistant: What You Need to Know

Jim Harbaugh is now part of a lawsuit against the University of Michigan and a former assistant football coach, Matt Weiss. Weiss is accused of hacking into the online accounts of college athletes across the country to search for private photos.

The lawsuit claims that Harbaugh, who coached Michigan football from 2015 to 2023, and others were aware that Weiss had been seen accessing sensitive information back in December 2022. Yet, they allowed him to continue his role as co-offensive coordinator in a crucial playoff game a week later.

Warde Manuel, Michigan’s athletic director, and other officials are also named in the legal action filed in federal court in Detroit. Lead lawyer Parker Stinar criticized the university for not taking immediate action to protect its student athletes, saying their safety seemed to be an afterthought.

Weiss faces serious charges, including identity theft and unauthorized access, linked to his activities from 2015 to 2023. He allegedly accessed the social media and email accounts of over 2,000 college athletes and more than 1,300 students or alumni to find explicit images, primarily of women. Weiss denies these charges.

According to the lawsuit, an employee reported seeing Weiss viewing private information at Schembechler Hall, the football team’s headquarters, shortly before the playoff game. He was fired in January 2023 during an investigation into his computer usage.

After the incident, Harbaugh stated he was surprised by the allegations and claimed he was unaware of Weiss’s actions until after the game. He emphasized he had no knowledge of any wrongdoing until it was too late. Weiss had previously worked with Harbaugh’s brother, John, on the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens coaching staff before joining Michigan in 2021.

A startling number of intimate images and videos were recovered from Weiss’s devices and accounts, raising serious concerns about privacy and safety for student athletes. This situation has sparked discussions on social media about the responsibility of coaches and universities in protecting their athletes from abuse and misconduct.

According to a recent survey by the American Association of University Professors, nearly 38% of students reported feeling unsafe about their privacy online. This case highlights a growing concern about digital security and the need for institutions to prioritize the welfare of their students.

For additional insights into cyber safety, you can check the Federal Trade Commission’s guidelines on how to safeguard personal information online.

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