**CONTENT WARNING: This story addresses allegations of sexual harassment and may be difficult to read and emotionally upsetting.**
Michigan State Football Coach, Mel Tucker, Faces Termination Amidst Sexual Harassment Investigation
Michigan State University has officially notified football coach Mel Tucker of its intent to terminate his contract for cause, according to an announcement made on Monday by Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller. The decision comes in the midst of an ongoing investigation into sexual harassment allegations against Tucker.
“This notification process is required as part of his existing contract,” Haller stated. “The notice provides Tucker with seven calendar days to respond and present reasons to me and the interim president as to why he should not be terminated for cause.”
If Tucker fails to provide sufficient reasons to justify why he should not be terminated, his firing will take effect on September 26. The university’s investigation into the allegations will continue, regardless of Tucker’s participation in the upcoming hearing or his job status. If terminated, Tucker stands to lose more than $70 million of his $95 million deal.
Michigan State contends that Tucker’s behavior violated the terms of his contract, which required him to maintain professionalism and ethical conduct at all times. The university also accused Tucker of engaging in conduct that “constitutes moral turpitude” or that would bring “public disrespect, contempt, or ridicule” upon the institution.
The allegations of sexual harassment were first made public in a report published by USA Today on September 9. Brenda Tracy, a rape survivor and activist, accused Tucker of making sexual comments and masturbating while on a phone call with her in April 2022. The two had established a professional relationship due to Tracy’s advocacy work, leading her to file a complaint against Tucker with the university’s Title IX office in December. Michigan State hired an external Title IX attorney to conduct an investigation.
According to Haller, the attorney submitted her report on July 25. A hearing to determine whether Tucker violated the university’s policies is scheduled for October 5 and 6. Coinciding with the football team’s bye week, the hearing will proceed regardless of Tucker’s employment status. Following the allegations becoming public knowledge, Michigan State suspended Tucker without pay.
In response to the accusations, Tucker denied Tracy’s claims, describing them as “completely false.” He stated that Tracy initiated the discussion and sent him provocative pictures during their 36-minute phone call. Tucker contended that Tracy never objected to the conversation, insisting that she gave no indication of being offended until four months later. He further alleged that Tracy repeatedly expressed a desire to return to the university and sent him a text on Father’s Day.
Brenda Tracy, who survived a gang rape by college football players in 1998, works as an activist visiting campuses to raise awareness about sexual assault through her organization, Set the Expectation. In 2022, Michigan State appointed Tracy as an honorary captain for a spring game.
Responding to the recent developments, Tracy released a letter through her attorney on September 12. In the letter, she explained that she initially had no intention of disclosing her identity publicly until the investigation was complete. However, after her name was leaked to local media outlets, Tracy allowed USA Today to publish her story before the investigation concluded. Tracy’s story was supported by over 1,200 pages of case documents, although USA Today generally refrains from identifying individuals who allege sexual harassment.
Michigan State’s handling of sexual abuse accusations against former USA Gymnastics and campus physician Larry Nassar has been marred by criticism and controversy. Nassar, who sexually abused over 300 female gymnasts, was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison in 2018. The university’s president at the time, Lou Anna K. Simon, resigned amid the scandal. Athletic director Mark Hollis also stepped down. While Hollis was never accused of knowledge regarding Nassar’s actions, an ESPN report from 2018 identified a troubling pattern of sexual assault issues within Michigan State athletics.
Mel Tucker was hired as Michigan State’s head football coach from the University of Colorado in February 2020. After an 11-2 run in November 2021, Tucker signed a lucrative 10-year, $95 million contract extension that extends until 2031, barring termination for specific causes, such as material breaches of the contract, criminal conviction, or engaging in “conduct which constitutes moral turpitude.”
As Michigan State begins the termination process, the university will have time to explore potential replacements for Tucker. Several names have been suggested, including Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman, Kansas head coach Lance Leipold, Colorado offensive coordinator Sean Lewis, Duke head coach Mike Elko, Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell, and Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith.
Alan Haller, who oversees the athletic department at Michigan State, will be tasked with making his first football coaching hire. Haller has recently hired new coaches for the hockey and women’s basketball programs, and the hockey program’s significant turnaround under coach Adam Nightengale bodes well for the search. This is the first time since late 2006, when Mark Dantonio was hired, that Michigan State will be conducting a football coaching search during a more typical fall timeline.
The outcome of this situation will have significant implications not only for Mel Tucker’s coaching career but also for Michigan State athletics, as the university continues to confront issues surrounding sexual misconduct within its sports programs.
*Photo: Mike Mulholland / Getty Images*