Mel Tucker informs Michigan State of plans to file wrongful termination lawsuit

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Mel Tucker and his attorneys have taken a major step toward a wrongful termination lawsuit against Michigan State. Tucker’s lawyers told university officials to keep their records, which is an indicator a lawsuit is forthcoming, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Dan Murphy.

Michigan State officially fired Tucker for cause earlier this week after giving him notice of those plans seven days prior. He is at the center of an investigation in light of allegations against him by prominent advocate Brenda Tracy, and a hearing is set for next week.

It’s the next step in the situation involving Tucker, which got started earlier this month when news broke of the allegations against him. The university suspended him without pay before eventually deciding to fire him for cause.

Mel Tucker's lawyers have sent an letter to Michigan State asking:

"in anticipation of litigation, the University, together with its representatives and agents, are hereby notified to preserve all electronic and hard-copy documents potentially relating to the litigation." pic.twitter.com/ubAY7MOvPv
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) September 28, 2023

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.

Tucker spoke out about the university’s plans to fire him last week, reiterating his stance that Brenda Tracy’s claims are “baseless” and the university’s process was a “miscarriage of justice.”

“I am disappointed but not surprised to learn that MSU intends to terminate my contract over Ms. Tracy’s improper public disclosure of the entire 1200-page investigation file regarding her baseless complaint against me,” the statement read, in part. “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. A cursory reading of the facts and timeline should cause any fair-minded person to conclude that other motives are at play.”

Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller defended the decision to fire Mel Tucker for cause

Michigan State AD Alan Haller released a statement regarding the final decision to fire Tucker for cause, pointing to the “litany of excuses for his inappropriate behavior” included in his 25-page response.

“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,” Haller said, via SpartanMag. “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.”

Tucker’s tenure in East Lansing started off with a 2-5 record in the COVID-19-impacted 2020 season, but he turned things around quickly to the tune of an 11-2 record in 2021. That earned him the landmark extension, but things haven’t gone well since. Michigan State went 5-7 last year to miss out on a bowl game.

On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this report.