Mel Tucker Responds to Michigan State’s Notice That School Intends to Fire Him

Tucker remains the subject of a Title IX investigation and is unlikely to coach another game for the Spartans.

Content warning: This story contains graphic language of a sexual nature.

Michigan State coach Mel Tucker released a statement Tuesday, one day after the school informed him of its intention to terminate his contract as the school’s football coach for cause.

Tucker remains the subject of a Title IX investigation for allegations of sexual harassment by Brenda Tracy, a sexual assault survivor who worked with Michigan State and other schools around the country to train players on matters relating to sexual violence.

“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,” Tucker’s statement, obtained by The Athletic‘s Chris Vannini, began. “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 football coach Tucker is currently suspended, and the school intends to terminate his contract :: Adam Cairns/The Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK

Tucker expounded upon a timeline of facts from the investigation that he believes are pertinent to his argument for keeping his job. Among them, Tucker expressed his concerns over a “leak of the confidential report” to the press that caused Michigan State to take action. Tucker stated Michigan State knew about the information that the school is using as the impetus to end his contract for cause in March 2023, but chose to act on it only now that the findings were leaked.

The allegations found in the complaint made by Tracy alleged that Tucker masturbated while making lewd comments about her during a phone call April 28, 2022. The pair had previously established a working relationship, with Tracy speaking to the Michigan State football team twice, while also serving as a captain at the Spartans’ spring game in April ’22.

Tucker admitted to the act to university investigators, but said that the phone sex between him and Tracy was consensual.