Michigan State University fired head football coach Mel Tucker on Wednesday for his “undisputed behaviors which have brought public disrespect” to th
Key Highlights :
Tucker was suspended on September 18th after the university sent him a letter informing him of its intent to fire him with cause. The letter stated that his alleged behavior, including making “unwelcome sexual advances” and masturbating on a phone call with the victim, known advocate Brenda Tracy, without consent, constituted “moral turpitude” and was a breach of contract.
Tucker responded to the letter informing him of intent to fire, but the university said his “response does not provide any information that refutes or undermines the multiple grounds for termination” and instead “provides a litany of excuses for his inappropriate behavior while expressly admitting to the problematic conduct outlined in the notice.”
Tucker had nearly $79 million remaining on his contract—which was for $95 million over 10 years starting in 2021—but if the university is able to fire him for cause, it won’t have to pay Tucker the remainder, ESPN reported.
In the letter Tucker’s lawyers sent responding to the notice of intent to terminate, they argue the university has no cause to fire him. The letter said he “did not engage in unprofessional or unethical behavior or ‘moral turpitude’ by any stretch of the imagination” and called the university’s findings “flimsy,” ESPN reported. His team described the situation as “a private relationship involving mutual flirting and one instance of consensual phone sex.”
In a statement to ESPN last week, Tucker said: “I can only conclude that MSU does not care about my rights, the truth, or its future liability for policing its employees' private lives.”
Tucker’s termination doesn’t put an end to the investigation by the MSU Office for Civil Rights, the university said; there is a hearing to determine if Tucker violated Michigan State's sexual harassment policy scheduled for early October.
Secondary coach Harlon Barnett—who has been the acting head coach since Tucker was suspended—will serve as interim head coach, subject to board approval, according to MSU. Tracy and Tucker began working together at MSU in August 2021 when Tracy spoke to the Spartan football team and told the story of her years-earlier gang rape by four athletes, asking the players to stand against sexual violence. She has used her experience to launch an educational speaking program and visited Michigan State athletes a total of three times in the last two years, according to USA Today, which first reported the investigation that led to Tucker’s firing.
USA Today obtained a Title IX complaint filed with the school in December, alleging Tucker made sexual comments about Tracy and masturbated while on the phone with her in April 2022. Tucker reportedly told the attorney the university hired to investigate that the pair had phone sex as part of a “mutually consensual and intimate relationship.” The report said Tucker canceled one of Tracy’s planned appearances at MSU after the call, and Tracy said she understood a number of comments by Tucker as threats to destroy her career if she said anything about what happened.
Michigan State University has officially fired head football coach Mel Tucker after allegations of sexual harassment by a prominent rape survivor and activist. Tucker had been suspended earlier this month after the university sent him a letter informing him of its intent to fire him with cause due to his alleged behavior, which included making unwelcome sexual advances and masturbating without consent. Despite his lawyers arguing that the university had no cause to fire him, the university said his response “does not provide any information that refutes or undermines the multiple grounds for termination” and instead “provides a litany of excuses for his inappropriate behavior while expressly admitting to the problematic conduct outlined in the notice.”
The termination of Tucker does not put an end to the investigation by the MSU Office for Civil Rights, as there is a hearing to determine if Tucker violated Michigan State's sexual harassment policy scheduled for early October. In the meantime, secondary coach Harlon Barnett—who has been the acting head coach since Tucker was suspended—will serve as interim head coach, subject to board approval.
The incident began when Tracy and Tucker began working together at MSU in August 2021 when Tracy spoke to the Spartan football team and told the story of her years-earlier gang rape by four athletes, asking the players to stand against sexual violence. She has used her experience to launch an educational speaking program and visited Michigan State athletes a total of three times in the last two years. USA Today obtained a Title IX complaint filed with the school in December, alleging Tucker made sexual comments about Tracy and masturbated while on the phone with her in April 2022. Tucker reportedly told the attorney the university hired to investigate that the pair had phone sex as part of a “mutually consensual and intimate relationship.” The report said Tucker canceled one of Tracy’s planned appearances at MSU after the call, and Tracy said she understood a number of comments by Tucker as threats to destroy her career if she said anything about what happened.
Michigan State University's decision to fire head football coach Mel Tucker after allegations of sexual harassment against a prominent rape survivor and activist is a strong statement that the university will not tolerate such behavior. This move sends a clear message that sexual harassment and misconduct will not be tolerated at Michigan State and that the university is committed to creating an environment that is safe and respectful for all members of its community.
