Former University of Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh has been added to a federal lawsuit that stems from criminal allegations against ex-assistant coach Matt Weiss. Attorneys allege that Harbaugh and other university officials were aware of suspicious behavior involving Weiss in December 2022, but allowed him to continue coaching in a high-profile playoff game.
Weiss is accused of unauthorized access to digital accounts belonging to thousands of college athletes and students nationwide, reportedly in search of intimate photos. He has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of identity theft and computer crimes, covering a span from 2015 to 2023.
The updated lawsuit, filed in Detroit, claims the university failed to take appropriate action after a staff member allegedly observed Weiss accessing private data just days before Michigan faced TCU in the 2022 College Football Playoff. Athletic Director Warde Manuel was also named in the suit.
Harbaugh, who is now the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, has not publicly commented. The university has yet to issue a formal response.
