Michigan State will fire Mel Tucker: University intends to terminate football coach’s contract for cause

Michigan State has initiated the method to fire suspended football trainer Mel Tucker with cause, the school announced Monday. Tucker was once put on administrative go away with out pay previous this month after it was once printed that he was once the focus of a college investigation into allegations of sexual harassment towards rape survivor and activist Brenda Tracy. A proper listening to will start Oct. 5 without reference to Tucker’s standing as Michigan State’s trainer.

“I, with the support of administration and board, have provided Mel Tucker with written notice of intent to terminate his contract for cause,” Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller stated in a commentary. “This notification process is required as part of his existing contract. The notice provides Tucker with seven calendar days to respond and present reasons to me and the interim president as to why he should not be terminated for cause.

“This motion does no longer conclude the continued Office for Civil Rights case; that rigorous procedure will proceed.”

Tucker, who is in his fourth season in East Lansing, was put on leave without pay on Sept. 12, one day after the allegations came to light. The investigation into Tucker’s alleged behavior stemmed from a complaint filed in December 2022 by Tracy, in which Tucker is accused of making sexually suggestive comments and masturbating while she “sat frozen for a number of mins” during a phone call in April 2022. Tucker has called the allegations “totally false.”

An exterior investigation concluded in overdue July, in accordance to Haller, however that presented little rationalization as to why Tucker was once no longer in the past placed on go away given the main points the college had at the moment. 

By firing Tucker for cause, Michigan State could be off the hook for a buyout exceeding $70 million. Tucker, in overdue 2021, was once awarded a 10-year, $95 million contract extension. He arrived at Michigan State in 2020 after spending 365 days at Colorado. Momentum for Tucker took off in 2021 after he guided the Spartans to 11 wins, together with a Peach Bowl victory towards Pitt. Michigan State, alternatively, regressed to a 5-7 end in 2022. The Spartans started the 2023 season 2-0 ahead of the allegations towards Tucker surfaced however fell to Washington in Week 3. 

Secondary trainer Harlon Barnett has been named appearing trainer with Mark Dantonio, Tucker’s predecessor, returning to the Spartans as an affiliate, off-field trainer.