Advertisement

Matt Weiss what we know: Michigan employee reported unauthorized access to emails

A University of Michigan employee informed police someone accessed the school's email accounts inside Schembechler Hall without proper authorization, according to online records.

The University of Michigan's daily crime log shows the report occurred at 12:44 p.m. on Jan. 5, when U-M police investigated the matter. Schembechler Hall is home to the offices of a number of employees, including head coach Jim Harbaugh and recently suspended co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss.

"An employee reported fraudulent activity involving someone accessing university emails accounts without authorization," the log reads. "Upon further investigation, it was found that a crime may have been committed."

TRENDING:Why Jim Harbaugh couldn't pass on coaching Michigan football in 2023

Michigan co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss waits for the team's NCAA college football game against Maryland in Ann Arbor, Sept. 24, 2022. The university has placed Weiss on leave, athletic department spokesman Kurt Svoboda confirmed Tuesday night, Jan. 17.
Michigan co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss waits for the team's NCAA college football game against Maryland in Ann Arbor, Sept. 24, 2022. The university has placed Weiss on leave, athletic department spokesman Kurt Svoboda confirmed Tuesday night, Jan. 17.

On Monday night, initial reports surfaced that a Michigan coach was being investigated for computer related crimes. Later that evening, Michigan football spokesman Dave Ablauf confirmed to the Detroit Free Press that Weiss had been placed on leave.

U-M Deputy Police Chief Crystal James confirmed in a statement there was a computer access crime inside Schembechler Hall in late December.

"The University of Michigan Police Department (UMPD) is investigating a report of computer access crimes that occurred at Schembechler Hall during December 21-23, 2022," the statement read. "Since this is an ongoing investigation, there is no additional information to share."

Dec. 21-23 was the NCAA three-day early signing period for college football.

A University of Michigan employee reported unauthorized access to university emails inside Schembechler Hall. Here's a picture of the computer log.
A University of Michigan employee reported unauthorized access to university emails inside Schembechler Hall. Here's a picture of the computer log.

Weiss, 39, who was brought on from the Baltimore Raves Feb. 2021 as quarterback coach and was named co-offensive coordinator with Sherrone Moore, did not respond directly to a text message sent to him by the Free Press.

It's the latest in a number of scandals surrounding the Michigan football program that date back throughout the last season; from Donovan Edwards' anti-semitic retweet that was 'a glitch' and DL Mazi Smith's gun charge, to an active NCAA investigation into Level I and Level II violations (impermissible contact with football recruits and coach Jim Harbuagh for 'lying or misleading' investigators) which appear will soon be levied against the program following U-M athletic director Warde Manuel confirming last week he'd received the official notice of allegations.

Bo Schembechler statue outside of University of Michigan's Schembechler Hall in Ann Arbor, Thursday, June 10, 2021.
Bo Schembechler statue outside of University of Michigan's Schembechler Hall in Ann Arbor, Thursday, June 10, 2021.

This is all on the heels of Harbaugh pursuing NFL coaching positions over the past month for the second consecutive season — his camp reportedly reached out to the Carolina Panthers about their opening and he held a zoom interview with the Denver Broncos last week.

However on Monday, University of Michigan President Santa Ono tweeted that Harbaugh called him to say he was staying as U-M's coach in 2023. Ono said he would relay the information to Manuel, Harbaugh's boss.

Harbaugh confirmed he was returning to Ann Arbor in statement of his own later that evening, and while the Free Press has learned while there are active negotiations to re-work Harbaugh's contract, nothing has been finalized.

It was last updated in February 2022, after he returned to Michigan once he was not offered the Minnesota Vikings opening.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan employee reported unauthorized access to university emails