**Surveillance Footage Ties Matt Weiss to Alleged Michigan Hack in 2022**
Key Takeaways:
- Former Michigan football staffer Matt Weiss indicted on 24 federal counts related to unauthorized computer access and identity theft.
- New court documents show surveillance footage of Weiss inside Michigan’s football facility during alleged hacking.
- FBI alleges Weiss accessed sensitive data from over 100 universities dating back to 2015.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The name “Matt Weiss” is trending as newly unsealed court documents reveal that the former University of Michigan co-offensive coordinator was inside the school’s football facility at the time of an alleged computer hacking in December 2022. Federal prosecutors have charged Weiss with 24 counts, including unauthorized computer access and aggravated identity theft linked to a years-long hacking investigation.
Surveillance Links Weiss to Hack Timing
According to documents filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, recently released surveillance images show Matt Weiss inside the Michigan football building during the timeframe in which university systems were compromised. The indictment, unsealed in March and detailed further last Friday, alleges that Weiss manipulated password-reset tools to access alumni email accounts—bypassing standard identity verification protocols.
The investigation escalated when university officials noticed suspicious activity targeting 46 alumni accounts; Weiss allegedly accessed 29 of those using the loophole. Authorities seized multiple electronic devices from Weiss’s office and residence in January 2023, including laptops, phones, and USB drives. After forensic analysis, the FBI tied Weiss to similar digital intrusions at over 100 colleges and universities nationwide, compromising data on an estimated 150,000 student-athletes, many of whom were women.
University Fired Weiss Amid Investigation
Matt Weiss was hired by the University of Michigan in February 2021 and rose to become co-offensive coordinator. However, when he failed to cooperate with the breach inquiry, the university terminated him in January 2023. The Department of Justice alleges that the hack was not a one-off incident but part of a longstanding operation starting back in 2015. Authorities continue to analyze the full scope of the breach, including what data was extracted and how it may have been used or shared.
Weiss has pleaded not guilty to all 24 federal counts. His legal team has not publicly responded to inquiries from media outlets, including WWMT’s NewsChannel 3, which published the latest update following the document release.
Wider Implications for College Sports and Data Security
The allegations against Weiss raise questions about cybersecurity protocols in collegiate athletics. With universities storing vast amounts of sensitive data on athletes, including photos, medical records, and performance metrics, federal officials are pushing institutions to reassess their data protection strategies. The University of Michigan has not disclosed how hackers initially gained access, but the manipulation of password-reset systems suggests existing processes lacked adequate safeguards.
This could spark increased investment in IT infrastructure across universities and stronger compliance measures to prevent future breaches. Meanwhile, the potential legal ramifications for Weiss include lengthy prison sentences if convicted on all counts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is Matt Weiss trending?
A: He is trending due to newly released court documents showing surveillance footage that places him at the University of Michigan football facility during an alleged hacking incident in 2022.
Q: What happens next?
A: Weiss awaits trial on 24 federal charges; further evidence review and court proceedings are expected in the coming months.
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