Mel Tucker Officially Fired as Michigan State HC with Cause After Investigation

Michigan State announced Wednesday it terminated the contract of head football coach Mel Tucker which was slated to pay him close to $80 million.

"Simply put, Mr. Tucker's response does not provide any information that refutes or undermines the multiple grounds for termination for cause set forth in the notice," athletic director Alan Haller said. "Instead, his 25-page response, which includes a 12-page letter from his attorney and a 13-page 'expert report,' provides a litany of excuses for his inappropriate behavior while expressly admitting to the problematic conduct outlined in the notice."

The Athletic's Nicole Auerbach shared a portion of the termination letter sent to Tucker:

USA Today's Kenny Jacoby reported on Sept. 10 that Tucker was the subject of a sexual harassment investigation.

Brenda Tracy, a rape survivor who has become an advocate for sexual violence education, said in a complaint she filed with MSU's Title IX office that Tucker had made sexually suggestive comments toward her and masturbated without her consent during an April 2022 phone call between the two. Tucker maintained that the "phone sex" was consensual, per Jacoby.

Hours after Jacoby's report, Michigan State suspended Tucker indefinitely without pay. On Sept. 18, the school said it planned to fire him for cause.

Tucker, who was less than two years into his 10-year, $95 million extension, had the opportunity to respond and did so on Sept. 19. He described the situation as a "miscarriage of justice" and claimed Michigan State "ignored its own policies in pursuing a biased investigation."

"Let's be clear. I don't believe MSU plans to fire me because I admitted to an entirely consensual, private relationship with another adult who gave one presentation at MSU, at my behest, over two years ago," he said. "A cursory reading of the facts and timeline should cause any fair-minded person to conclude that other motives are at play."

Michigan State maintained the details to which Tucker admitted provided enough grounds to fire him for cause.

"It is immaterial if, as you allege, these actions were purportedly consensual and somehow occurred outside of your workplace," Haller said in the termination letter. "As the University previously stated, 'It is decidedly unprofessional and unethical to flirt, make sexual comments, and masturbate while on the phone with a University vendor.'"

Tucker had brought Tracy to the Michigan State campus on multiple occasions to speak with his players and staffers about sexual violence.

Tucker's tenure with the Spartans is now officially over after three-plus seasons. He compiled a 20-14 record during that time, and the high-water mark came in 2021 as Michigan State went 11-2 and won the Peach Bowl.

ESPN's Pete Thamel noted an investigation remains ongoing into whether the 51-year-old violated school policy. He may also pursue litigation in an attempt to recoup the $79 million that's outstanding on his contract.