Mel Tucker releases statement following suspension, sexual harassment allegations
Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker is currently suspended without pay as he is in the midst of a sexual harassment investigation. On Monday afternoon, Tucker released a statement, claiming the allegations to be false.
“Brenda Tracy’s allegations of harassment are completely false,” Tucker said in a statement via Chris Solari of the Detroit Free Press. “The proceedings initiated by Ms. Tracy are devoid of any semblance of fairness for any matter of this importance, and the University’s ‘hearing’ scheduled for October 5-6 is so flawed that there is no other opportunity for the truth to come out.”
Later in his statement, Tucker wanted to make sure something was “perfectly clear.” He says the phone conversation between him and Brenda Tracy was “entirely mutual” and believes it was a “private event” between the two. According to Tucker, Tracy was the one to initiate the conversation, one which took place for over 30 minutes.
“Yes, I did have a late-night intimate conversation with Ms. Tracy in April 2022,” Tucker said. “Again, as even Ms. Tracy’s statements to the investigator confirm, this conversation had nothing to do with the University and was outside of the scope of Title IX or any University policy… While I am saddened by Ms. Tracy’s disclosure of the sensitive nature of this call, let me be perfectly clear — it was an entirely mutual, private event between two adults living at opposite ends of the country.
“She initiated the discussion that night, sent me a provocative picture of the two of us together, suggested what she may look like without clothes, and never once during the 36 minutes did she object in any manner, much less hang up the phone.”
Tucker later went on to say Tracy expressed the desire to come back to Michigan State despite her presentation being delayed months prior. He said the cancellation of the presentation had nothing to do with him.
On the field, Michigan State has a big matchup against Washington on deck. Both teams have a 2-0 record but the Huskies are considered the No. 8 team in the country per the latest AP poll. The Spartans will be looking for revenge following last season’s 11-point loss in Seattle.
Tucker will not be on the sideline, with Harlon Barnett serving as the interim head coach. Mark Dantonio is expected to play a role as well, rejoining the program as an assistant coach with an undefined role.