Jim Harbaugh Joins Controversial Hacking Lawsuit Involving Former Michigan Football Assistant

Jim Harbaugh has been added to a lawsuit involving the University of Michigan and a former assistant coach, Matt Weiss. Weiss is accused of hacking into college athletes’ accounts to find private photos.

Attorneys claim that Harbaugh, who was head coach from 2015 to 2023, and others were aware of Weiss’s suspicious behavior in December 2022 but still let him work during an important playoff game a week later. This raises concerns about the university’s commitment to student welfare.

Not only Harbaugh but also athletic director Warde Manuel and other officials are part of the lawsuit filed in a federal court in Detroit. "The university delayed protecting students until after a critical game, showing that student safety came second," said Parker Stinar, the lead lawyer in the case against Weiss.

Weiss faces charges for identity theft and unauthorized access of computers between 2015 and 2023. The indictment claims he accessed the accounts of over 2,000 college athletes and around 1,300 students or alumni, mainly searching for private images of women. Weiss has pleaded not guilty.

The lawsuit argues that if Harbaugh had exercised proper oversight of his staff, these violations might have been prevented. Instead, Weiss was a valuable member of the football program, which allowed him to target female athletes.

A staff member reported seeing Weiss view private information at Schembechler Hall on December 21, 2022, just days before the playoff game against TCU. Weiss was ultimately fired a few weeks later following an investigation.

Earlier this year, Harbaugh claimed he was unaware of Weiss’s issues until after the playoff match, expressing shock at the allegations. Weiss previously worked for Harbaugh’s brother, John, with the Baltimore Ravens before joining Michigan.

Moreover, Weiss’s university computer had encryption software that had to be disabled by external vendors during the investigation. Authorities revealed in April that thousands of intimate photos and videos were found on his devices and cloud storage.

This incident sparks a wider conversation about privacy and trust in college sports. As fans and commentators react, it’s clear that accountability in sports organizations is under scrutiny. This lawsuit may serve as a wake-up call for universities to bolster their measures for protecting student athletes’ rights and privacy.

For further insights into the implications of privacy breaches in sports, see the latest report on cybersecurity in college athletics.

Source link

Jim Harbaugh, michigan football, university of michigan, Matt Weiss, jim harbaugh lawsuit, harbaugh lawsuit, coach harbaugh, michigan football lawsuit, matt weiss michigan, espn, news, los-angeles-chargers, college-football, michigan-wolverines, 16880262