Michigan State tells football coach Mel Tucker it will fire him for misconduct with rape survivor

Michigan State’s athletic director, Alan Haller, has delivered a decisive ultimatum to the suspended football coach, Mel Tucker. He informed Tucker that he faces termination without compensation due to allegations of misconduct involving Brenda Tracy, an activist and rape survivor.

In a formal statement issued by the school, Haller outlined the process, stating that Tucker has seven calendar days to provide a response and present compelling reasons to him and the interim president, justifying why he should not be terminated for cause. Tucker, who is currently in the third year of a substantial $95 million, 10-year contract, could forfeit the remainder of his contract if terminated for cause.

Haller emphasized that this decision does not impede the ongoing investigation into Brenda Tracy’s allegations of sexual harassment, which falls under the jurisdiction of the school’s office for civil rights.

Tracy alleges that Tucker sexually harassed her during a phone conversation in April 2022. After eight months, she officially filed a complaint with the school’s Title IX office, and the investigative process concluded in July. A hearing is scheduled for the week of October 5th to determine whether Tucker violated the school’s sexual harassment and exploitation policy, with a potential ruling taking up to 60 days.

Michigan State, however, has chosen not to wait for the outcome of this hearing to take action.

Tucker, aged 51 and currently estranged from his wife with two children, vehemently denies the allegations against him. He asserts that the intimate phone call with Tracy was consensual and outside the purview of both Title IX and the school’s policy. The school’s official stance cites “unprofessional behavior and not living up to the core values of the department and university” as the grounds for Tucker’s suspension.

Brenda Tracy is well-known for her advocacy work with college teams, educating athletes about sexual violence. Michigan State had previously compensated her with $10,000 to share her story with the football team.

In a challenging period for the team, the Spartans, with a record of 2-1, experienced a significant defeat, losing 41-7 to No. 8 Washington on Saturday in Harlon Barnett’s debut as interim coach. Their upcoming game against Maryland (3-0) carries added weight as they navigate these tumultuous waters.

[Source: AP college football – https://bigbignews.net/college-football and https://bigbignews.net/ap-top-25-college-football-poll]

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More about Coach Mel Tucker’s Termination

• Michigan State’s Official Statement on Coach Tucker
• AP College Football Coverage