Former University of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh was named in an ongoing class-action suit against the school over allegations that a former offensive coordinator illegally accessed student accounts to download their personal, intimate images.
Harbaugh, now head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, led the Wolverines football team from 2015 to 2023. During that time, co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss was fired for allegedly gaining unauthorized access to other people’s computer accounts.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan charged Weiss in March with 14 counts of unauthorized access to computers and 10 counts of aggravated identity theft. According to a federal indictment, he had unauthorized access to a platform with personal identifying information about student-athletes from more than 100 colleges and universities across the country.
He then allegedly used that information to hack into the personal accounts of 3,300 students and alumni with the help of additional internet research. Federal prosecutors allege that he mostly targeted female student-athletes, downloading intimate photos and videos from their private accounts.
Weiss was hired at the University of Michigan in 2021 and terminated in 2023. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The class-action lawsuit, which is separate from the criminal case, targets Weiss, the University of Michigan and the maker of third-party software Weiss is alleged to have used to gain access to personal identifying information of student-athletes. It consolidates a number of civil suits in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Harbaugh was named as a party in an amended complaint on Friday, alleging that he neglected responsibilities in his role as Weiss’ supervisor and the head of the football program.
The complaint alleges that Harbaugh “failed and refused to implement basic security measures to Weiss and the football program” that resulted in Weiss being able to gain access to the students’ information.
“Had Harbaugh implemented basic oversight of his staff, Plaintiffs and the class would have been protected against predators such as Weiss,” the complaint said.
The new complaint also alleges that a staff member saw Weiss viewing a student’s private information at Schembechler Hall in December 2022 prior to the school competing in the Fiesta Bowl.
Harbaugh and the university still allowed Weiss to participate in the game, despite a report having been filed to the university prior to the game, the filing said.
A representative for Harbaugh did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Harbaugh said earlier this year after news of the Weiss indictment broke that he was “completely shocked” and “disturbed” by the allegations, according to NBC Sports.
The two worked together prior to their time at the University of Michigan when Harbaugh coached at Stanford University between 2007 and 2010.
Weiss also worked with Harbaugh’s brother, John Harbaugh, during his time on the Baltimore Ravens staff. Weiss spent 12 seasons as an assistant coach for the Ravens where, Harbaugh’s brother served as head coach.
