Conflicting reports emerge on status of Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker
Brett McMurphy of Action Network reported on Sunday that the Michigan State Spartans fired head coach Mel Tucker in the wake of an investigation for sexual harassment. Moments later, several conflicting reports emerged saying that Tucker was, in fact, suspended instead.
“Mel Tucker fired as Michigan State’s coach, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. Secondary coach Harlon Barnett will be MSU’s interim coach w/former coach Mark Dantonio expected to assist in an undefined role,” McMurphy initially wrote on Twitter. “MSU investigating allegations Tucker sexually harassed activist/rape survivor Brenda Tracy, USA Today reported. School has called a 5 p.m. news conference.”
However, minutes later a conflicting report emerged from the Detroit Press’ Chris Solari stating Tucker had not been fired but instead suspended, which was quickly confirmed by several other national outlets including The Athletic and ESPN.
“Hearing MSU football coach Mel Tucker is suspended with pay pending the outcome of the Title IX investigation, per a source,” wrote Solari.
McMurphy tweeted later that Michigan State would wait until after the Title IX investigation:
“Michigan State will wait until Title IX investigation is completed, to make Tucker’s move official, sources said. MSU will claim dismissal w/cause to get out of paying Tucker’s $70-plus million buyout. School expected to disclose more information in 5 p.m. news conference.”
A Saturday night report from USA Today identified the sexual harassment complainant was high-profile anti-sexual violence advocate and rape survivor Brenda Tracy, who has made a career of speaking primarily to college-aged athletes.
The investigation into Tucker has been open for months and remains open, according to ESPN.
Tracy alleged in a Title IX complaint — which is being handled by lawyers hired by the university — that Tucker repeatedly made sexual comments and masturbated during a phone call on April 28, 2022. A report that resulted from that investigation was delivered to the university in July.
There will be a formal Title IX hearing during Oct. 5-6 — during the Michigan State idle week in the football season — to determine if Tucker violated the school policy banning sexual harassment and exploitation.
Tucker signed a historic contract extension signed in 2021, when he signed a 10-year, $95 million extension.
Since the 11-2 season led by Tucker in 2021, Michigan State struggled in 2022 with a 5-7 record and missed the postseason and Tucker was considered being under pressure this fall.
All told, Michigan State could be on the hook for $71 million over the course of the 10-year contract after the combined gifts from Mat Ishbia and Steven St. Andre.
Ishbia revealed on an episode of HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel that he had donated $14 million to the Tucker contract, which the docs confirm. St. Andre’s gift is for $10 million.
The documents, which are contracts spelling out the terms and timelines of the gifts from Ishbia and St. Andre, do not directly state the money is supposed to cover Tucker’s salary. In the case of St. Andre’s donation, the purpose is for “recruitment and retention” for the Michigan State football team.
Mel Tucker under investigation for sexual harassment case
Tracy shared a trove of case documents with USA Today and agreed to have her identity revealed — USA Today generally keeps complainants and victims anonymous unless they choose otherwise.
Tracy said she sat frozen during the call.
“The idea that someone could know me and say they understand my trauma but then re-inflict that trauma on me is so disgusting to me, it’s hard for me to even wrap my mind around it,” she said to USA Today. “It’s like he sought me out just to betray me.”
Tucker, in a letter to the investigator, acknowledged masturbating on the call but claimed the episode was mischaracterized and described it as consensual “phone sex.”
“Ms. Tracy’s distortion of our mutually consensual and intimate relationship into allegations of sexual exploitation has really affected me,” Tucker said in the letter, according to USA Today. “I am not proud of my judgment and I am having difficulty forgiving myself for getting into this situation, but I did not engage in misconduct by any definition.”
Tucker was reached on Saturday night and hung up, according to USA Today. The school declined to comment.
Andrew Graham contributed to this report