Harbaugh Named in Lawsuit Over Weiss Hacking Scandal

Jim Harbaugh, head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers and former University of Michigan football coach, has been added to a federal class-action lawsuit alleging that university officials knew assistant coach Matt Weiss accessed private accounts of college athletes but allowed him to remain on staff for a major playoff game. The complaint claims Michigan prioritized athletic prestige and profit over student safety, especially for female athletes, by delaying action against Weiss until after the national playoff. Weiss, who was fired in January 2023, has been federally indicted on multiple counts of unauthorized computer access and identity theft and has pleaded not guilty. The lawsuits are part of a broader legal action affecting over 80 female athletes and more than 150,000 victims nationwide. Accusations center on institutional negligence and failure to protect student athletes. As of Friday, neither Harbaugh nor athletic director Warde Manuel have publicly commented on the lawsuit.