University of Michigan co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss has been placed on leave, as the school's police department investigates a "report of computer access crimes" that occurred in December at Schembechler Hall, the team's football facility.
The University of Michigan Police Department acknowledged in a statement to ESPN on Tuesday night that it is investigating a potential crime. According to reporting by Pete Thamel and Dan Murphy, police released the statement to ESPN when asked specifically about an investigation into Weiss, although the statement doesn't acknowledge anyone by name.
A university spokesperson said Weiss has not been with the team or in the building recently. Sources told ESPN that Weiss has not been on the road recruiting for the Wolverines.
Weiss, 39, is a 2005 Vanderbilt graduate with a degree in economics, human and organizational development. He also has a graduate degree in liberal arts from Stanford.
His second year on Jim Harbaugh's staff saw Weiss promoted to co-offensive coordinator, which allowed him to share play-calling duties.
Weiss' contract includes an $850,000 base salary for the 2022 season and it is projected to total nearly $1.25 million due of bonuses. That's about double the $600,000 he made his during first season as quarterbacks coach in 2021. The additional $400,000 in bonuses for 2022 came because Michigan finished in the top two in the Big Ten in scoring ($100,000) and in the top 10 in the FBS in scoring ($100,000) and also had 12 wins in the regular season ($200,000), reported Thamel and Murphy, adding that his contract has two additional years remaining.
The "for cause" firing provisions in Weiss' contract include "conviction of the coach of any criminal offense involving fraud; or conviction of any felony; or commission of any act which results in material injury to the reputation of the university." It also has a conduct clause for morality, which is typical in coaching contracts, Thamel and Murphy reported.
In a statement to ESPN, Weiss said: "I am aware of the ongoing investigation by the University of Michigan Police Department and fully cooperating with investigators. I look forward to the matter being resolved. Out of respect for the integrity of the investigation, I will not have any further comment."
Last week, a neighbor of Weiss in Ann Arbor told ESPN that several unmarked cars showed up outside Weiss' home in what appeared to be some type of police presence. The search of Weiss' home is believed to be tied to the university police investigation, according to sources.
"The University of Michigan Police Department is investigating a report of computer access crimes that occurred at Schembechler Hall during December 21-23, 2022," University of Michigan Deputy Chief of Police Crystal James said in the statement. "Since this is an ongoing investigation there is no additional information to share."
