Kirk Herbstreit weighs in on reports of Mel Tucker mega-deal
ESPN CollegeGameday analyst Kirk Herbstreit weighed in on Michigan State’s allegedly massive impending extension for head coach Mel Tucker. Herbstreit sees the potential deal shaking up contracts for big-name coaches moving forward.
News broke Wednesday that Michigan State was prepared to offer football coach Mel Tucker a contract extension. Michigan State is preparing a historic $95 million, 10-year contract extension for Tucker, according to the Detroit Free-Press.
“Number one, good for him,” Herbstreit told the Detroit News. “Number two, if you’re Ryan Day’s agent or anybody else’s agent who’s an established brand, I’m sure you’re going to call your agent and say, ‘wait a second, we’ve been going here for a while, if he’s making that, what’s that mean for me?’
“So yeah, it’s no different in your business, our business, or the coaching profession. If that deal goes through, it will be interesting to see the reaction from agents who represent other coaches.”
The new deal would make him the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten. Also, he’d be the nation’s highest-paid Black coach across all sports. He’d be a top-five highest-paid coach period. Nick Saban is just below a $10 million annual salary in 2021.
Ryan Day makes $6.61 million at Ohio State. The Buckeyes extended his contract in 2020 through the 2026 season. He’ll make $7.6 million in 2022.
Per Michigan State football alums and “Inside the Locker Room” hosts Brian Mosallam and Jason Strayhorn, fellow alums and big donors Matt Ishbia and Steve St. Andre stepped in to fund the extension.
Mel Tucker reacts to potential extension
The Spartans’ skipper joined The Draymond Green Show on Thursday and reacted to a question Green asked about Tucker staying in East Lansing long-term.
“That’s my goal,” Tucker said of staying at Michigan State for the long run. “I came here and I made it clear in my initial press conference that I thought that Michigan State was a destination job, not a stepping stone. Obviously, I have Big Ten roots. I played at Wisconsin, I’m from Cleveland, Ohio, my parents are three hours and 15 minutes away, my wife’s from Chicago and I know the Big Ten landscape. This is where I started my career in 1997 as a grad assistant for Nick Saban, so it’s a special place for me.
“It was never my intention to come here and just pass through. I believe that we’re building something special here. I’ve had tremendous support here to do that – and we’re on the right track.”
Currently, in his second season leading the Spartans’ program, he has the team sitting at 9-1 overall and ranked No. 7 in the College Football Playoff Top 25 heading into Saturday’s marquee Big Ten matchup with No. 4 Ohio State.
Tucker has done well in recruiting in East Lansing. He made a huge splash in the transfer portal last offseason and landed Wake Forest transfer running back Kenneth Walker III. Walker is now a Heisman Trophy contender, leading the nation with 148.3 rush yards per game. It’s a stark contrast to last year when Michigan State’s run game was almost non-existent.