Michigan State Football

Former Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker is planning to file a wrongful termination lawsuit against the university, according to ESPN's Dan Murphy and Pete Thamel.

Tucker was fired for cause Wednesday after he was suspended for two weeks without pay following USA Today's Kenny Jacoby's report that he was the subject of a sexual harassment investigation by the university.

Tucker had more than eight years and $79 million remaining on his contract, which he will not receive if fired for cause.

Tucker was accused of sexual harassment by Brenda Tracy, a rape survivor and activist against sexual violence.

Tracy filed a complaint with Michigan State in December that said Tucker made sexual comments and masturbated without her consent during a phone call while Tracy was working as a vendor for the university, Jacoby reported.

Tucker described the incident to an investigator as consensual "phone sex," per Jacoby. Michigan State later told Tucker in a termination letter that this conversation broke university rules even if consensual, calling the incident "unprofessional and unethical."

Tucker argued in a public response that Michigan State had announced its intent to fire him with cause after he requested medical leave "for a serious health condition."

"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," Tucker wrote. "A cursory reading of the facts and timeline should cause any fair-minded person to conclude that other motives are at play."

Tucker added in his response letter that he would "look forward to one day obtaining discovery against MSU, including the trustees and the athletic department, to see what they really knew and said about this matter, as well as their motives in handling the entire investigative process."

In his attorney's letter to the general counsel for Michigan State, Tucker requested that the school retain "all phone records, computer records and physical files generated by athletic department employees, the general counsel's office, the university and all members of Michigan State's board of trustees among others" for use in pending litigation, Murphy and Thamel reported.

A hearing to decide if Tucker violated Michigan State's sexual misconduct policy is scheduled for next week, per Murphy and Thamel.

Michigan State announced Wednesday it terminated the contract of head football coach Mel Tucker which was slated to pay him close to $80 million.

"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," athletic director Alan Haller said. "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."

The Athletic's Nicole Auerbach shared a portion of the termination letter sent to Tucker:

USA Today's Kenny Jacoby reported on Sept. 10 that Tucker was the subject of a sexual harassment investigation.

Brenda Tracy, a rape survivor who has become an advocate for sexual violence education, said in a complaint she filed with MSU's Title IX office that Tucker had made sexually suggestive comments toward her and masturbated without her consent during an April 2022 phone call between the two. Tucker maintained that the "phone sex" was consensual, per Jacoby.

Hours after Jacoby's report, Michigan State suspended Tucker indefinitely without pay. On Sept. 18, the school said it planned to fire him for cause.

Tucker, who was less than two years into his 10-year, $95 million extension, had the opportunity to respond and did so on Sept. 19. He described the situation as a "miscarriage of justice" and claimed Michigan State "ignored its own policies in pursuing a biased investigation."

"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," he said. "A cursory reading of the facts and timeline should cause any fair-minded person to conclude that other motives are at play."

Michigan State maintained the details to which Tucker admitted provided enough grounds to fire him for cause.

"It is immaterial if, as you allege, these actions were purportedly consensual and somehow occurred outside of your workplace," Haller said in the termination letter. "As the University previously stated, 'It is decidedly unprofessional and unethical to flirt, make sexual comments, and masturbate while on the phone with a University vendor.'"

Tucker had brought Tracy to the Michigan State campus on multiple occasions to speak with his players and staffers about sexual violence.

Tucker's tenure with the Spartans is now officially over after three-plus seasons. He compiled a 20-14 record during that time, and the high-water mark came in 2021 as Michigan State went 11-2 and won the Peach Bowl.

ESPN's Pete Thamel noted an investigation remains ongoing into whether the 51-year-old violated school policy. He may also pursue litigation in an attempt to recoup the $79 million that's outstanding on his contract.

Michigan State head football coach Mel Tucker responded Monday to the school's letter from last week that stated it intended to fire him for cause due to "a body of undisputed evidence of misconduct that warrants termination."

"[Tucker] did not engage in unprofessional or unethical behavior or 'moral turpitude' by any stretch of the imagination," Tucker's response, as penned by his lawyers, read in part. "In fact, as discussed below, under Michigan law, assault and battery does not even constitute 'moral turpitude,' and the flimsy foundation of the university's finding—a private relationship involving mutual flirting and one instance of consensual phone sex—falls far short of the mark."

As a part of its decision to fire Tucker for cause, Michigan State cited sexual harassment allegations levied against him. Sexual assault awareness speaker Brenda Tracy said Tucker made unwanted sexual advances toward her—which included making comments about her body and flirting with her—and additionally masturbated without consent during a phone call between the pair.

Tucker said the masturbation did occur, but that it was "consensual phone sex," as his lawyers wrote.

Tracy also said Tucker both postponed and cancelled one of her scheduled speaking events at the school after she raised concerns about him.

"The unprofessional and unethical behavior is particularly egregious given that the Vendor at issue was contracted by the University for the sole purpose of educating student-athletes on, and preventing instances of, inappropriate sexual misconduct," athletic director Alan Haller wrote in the school's letter expressing an intent to terminate.

Tucker's lawyers called the investigation against him, which began in December 2022, "terribly flawed, unfair, biased, and devoid of due process."

Tucker, 51, has served as Michigan State's head coach since 2020. The team is 20-14 under his watch. By firing him with cause, the university is hoping to get out of paying him the more than $79 million he's due over the duration of his current contract.

Amid an ongoing sexual harassment case against him, Michigan State football head coach Mel Tucker reportedly "repeatedly made false statements" to a Title IX investigator "and misled her about basic facts," per Kenny Jacoby of USA Today.

MSU has previously announced its intent to terminate Tucker's contract "for cause" after previously suspending him without pay.

Brenda Tracy, a rape survivor, activist and advocate who educates athletes about sexual violence, reported to MSU's Title IX office on Dec. 21, 2022, that Tucker sexually harassed her, per Jacoby.

The main incident in question revolves around an April 2022 phone call between Tucker and Tracy, who was asked to speak with the football team about sexual misconduct awareness by Tucker.

Tracy reported that Tucker made sexual comments about her and masturbated during the call. Tucker, who is married, told a Title IX investigator that he and Tracy had consensual "phone sex." He admitted to masturbating and claimed he and Tracy were in a romantic relationship.

Tracy denied those allegations and said the romantic interest was entirely one-sided. In addition, she also attempted to set boundaries on multiple occasions during her business partnership with Tucker and his program.

Per Jacoby, there are numerous reported inaccuracies in Tucker's telling of the story.

Tucker made the phone call while he was in Florida on a university-sponsored work trip in which he notably supported an MSU-sponsored private event to promote its migrant student services program, per Jacoby.

However, he told outside investigator Rebecca Leitman Veidlinger last March that he was not on a work-related trip at the time, instead claiming he was home in East Lansing, a point that has since been disproven.

In addition, Tucker reportedly was not truthful regarding his reasoning for canceling Tracy's scheduled July 25, 2022, in-person training with coaches and players.

"When Tracy spoke to him by phone on Aug. 2 seeking to find out why, she would tell the investigator in her interview, Tucker insinuated he would harm her career if she spoke about his conduct," Jacoby wrote. "He never rescheduled her visit, and they never spoke again."

Tucker stated on Sept. 11 of this year that he never cancelled any presentation.

"I never cancelled any presentation," he wrote. "Given a personnel change and scheduling challenges as football season approached, we merely postponed it until January 2023. She chose to file her complaint instead of proceeding with the training."

However, Jacoby revealed that Tucker told Veidlinger that he "absolutely" canceled that presentation and had no plans to reschedule to January 2023 because most new team members would not be on campus until the spring.

He also said that he needed that time in late July t so that mental conditioning coach, Ben Newman, could implement his program. But Jacoby noted that Newman didn't meet with the team at all from July 15-28.

In addition, Tucker claimed that his relationship with Tracy went south after an anonymous associate, who he did not name, claimed to learn of marital problems he was having via Tracy's then-assistant, Ahlan Alvarado, who reportedly "had been gossiping about Tucker's marriage."

Per Jacoby: "Tucker confronted Tracy about the alleged gossiping during the Aug. 2 phone call, they both told the investigator. Tracy said he berated and bullied her, repeatedly saying he could not trust her. She said she told him she did not know what she was talking about."

Tracy told the investigator she believed Tucker made up the story to provide reasoning for canceling her scheduled July 25 visit and terminating her relationship with the MSU program.

Tucker has claimed that all the sexual harassment allegations against him are "completely false."

The 51-year-old Tucker became MSU's head coach in 2020 after a year leading Colorado. He previously served as Georgia's defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach from 2016-2018.

Tucker parlayed a breakout 2021 season (11 wins, Peach Bowl appearance, No. 9 Associated Press ranking) into a 10-year, $95 million extension signed in November of that year. Harlon Barnett has taken over as the team's acting head coach.

Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker assessed what he called a "miscarriage of justice" after the school announced its intention to fire him for cause amid an investigation into sexual harassment allegations.

"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," he said Tuesday in a statement. "A cursory reading of the facts and timeline should cause any fair-minded person to conclude that other motives are at play."

Tucker added that "MSU ignored its own policies in pursuing a biased investigation."

USA Today's Kenny Jacoby reported on Sept. 10 that Michigan State was investigating Tucker due to allegations leveled by Brenda Tracy, a rape survivor who has become an activist for sexual violence awareness.

Per Jacoby, Tucker invited Tracy to Michigan State's campus on three occasions, and the two began to speak regularly over the phone. Tucker "started becoming interested in Tracy romantically" around the time that he signed his 10-year, $95 million extension with the school in November 2021.

Tucker maintained to investigators the feelings between he and Tracy were mutual, while Tracy asserted it "was entirely one-sided," according to Jacoby.

During one call in April 2022, Tucker allegedly made sexually suggestive comments to Tracy and began masturbating, per Jacoby. While Tucker said it was consensual phone sex, Tracy disputed that claim, affirming that she didn't consent to what Tucker did.

"The idea that someone could know me and say they understand my trauma but then re-inflict that trauma on me is so disgusting to me, it's hard for me to even wrap my mind around it," she told Jacoby. "It's like he sought me out just to betray me."

In Tuesday's statement, Tucker said Tracy "manufactured false allegations against me." He also alleged that Tracy was among those who leaked confidential information connected to the case. Tracy's attorney said her client only went public when she did so because her identity had already been leaked to the media.

Michigan State initially suspended Tucker without pay in the wake of the report. Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller said Monday the university had formally provided Mel Tucker with "written notice of intent to terminate his contract for cause."

The Athletic's Nicole Auerbach provided the full letter that was addressed to the coach.

The school contended the "undisputed facts" that were uncovered during the investigation "provide multiple grounds for termination under the Agreement's Early Termination Provision."

ESPN's Pete Thamel noted there's $79 million outstanding on Tucker's contract.

Mel Tucker's time as head football coach at Michigan State is coming to an end.

Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller announced that Tucker has been given "written notice of intent to terminate his contract for cause." Tucker remains the subject of a sexual harassment investigation, and his firing "does not conclude" the matter.

Tucker was initially suspended without pay by the university on Sept. 10. A report from Kenny Jacoby of USA Today revealed that an investigation was launched following a complaint from prominent sexual assault prevention advocate Brenda Tracy from December that accused Tucker of sending her gifts, making inappropriate comments and masturbating during a phone call without her consent.

"The idea that someone could know me and say they understand my trauma but then re-inflict that trauma on me is so disgusting to me, it's hard for me to even wrap my mind around it," Tracy told Jacoby. "It's like he sought me out just to betray me."

Tucker denied the allegations, saying in a letter to an investigator in March that his relationship with Tracy was "mutually consensual and intimate." He also admitted to masturbating during the phone call, but claimed the act was consensual.

"Ms. Tracy's distortion of our mutually consensual and intimate relationship into allegations of sexual exploitation has really affected me," Tucker wrote in the letter. "I am not proud of my judgment and I am having difficulty forgiving myself for getting into this situation, but I did not engage in misconduct by any definition."

Michigan State made Tucker one of the highest-paid coaches in all of college sports when it signed him to a 10-year, $95 million contract in November 2021. He is now set to lose the over $70 million remaining on his deal.

The Spartans fell to No. 8 Washington 41-7 on Saturday for their first loss of the 2023 season. Michigan State will look to bounce back at home against Maryland this week.

Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker, who is suspended without pay amid a sexual harassment investigation, released a lengthy statement through his lawyer on Monday.

Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic shared the statement, which said, in part, that the "allegations of harassment are completely false" and "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."

On Sunday, Kenny Jacoby of USA Today reported Brenda Tracy—who is a rape survivor and professionally educates athletes about sexual violence—filed a complaint to Michigan State's Title IX office in December alleging that "Tucker made sexual comments about her and masturbated" when they were on a phone call.

"The idea that someone could know me and say they understand my trauma but then re-inflict that trauma on me is so disgusting to me, it's hard for me to even wrap my mind around it," she said, per Jacoby. "It's like he sought me out just to betray me."

Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller announced Sunday that the school suspended Tucker without pay.

Dan Murphy of ESPN shared some details on the timing of the punishment from Michigan State's perspective:

Jacoby noted Tucker and Tracy "developed a professional relationship centered on her advocacy work" that included her speaking to Spartans players on multiple occasions and even being named the honorary captain for a spring football game.

"Then, after the spring game, Tucker called her four times, phone records show," Jacoby wrote. "Tracy said he repeatedly asked her to meet him alone, without her assistant, and even suggested slipping into her hotel through a back door so no one would see him. She said no."

Tracy then said in the complaint the phone call in question happened in April 2022.

Jacoby reported that Tucker wrote a letter to the Title IX investigator that called the interaction mutual and consensual.

"I am not proud of my judgment and I am having difficulty forgiving myself for getting into this situation, but I did not engage in misconduct by any definition," he said.

Tucker reiterated in Monday's statement that the phone conversation was consensual in his view.

"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," he said. "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."

He also said Tracy's attorney asked for money to make the allegations go away and that "the investigation has not been fair or unbiased. I can only conclude that there is an ulterior motive designed to terminate my contract."

Jacoby reported there is a "formal hearing to determine whether Tucker violated the school's policy banning sexual harassment and exploitation is scheduled for Oct. 5 and 6."

In his statement, Tucker called the hearing a "sham" that won't require any testifying under oath or the opportunity to present evidence toward what he sees as his innocence.

The date of the hearing coincides with Michigan State's bye week during what is Tucker's fourth season as the head coach of the Spartans. He signed a 10-year, $95 million contract in November 2021.

Mel Tucker has been suspended without pay by Michigan State University amid a sexual harassment investigation, athletic director Alan Haller announced Sunday, via Bruce Feldman of The Athletic.

Nicole Auerbach and Chris Vannini of The Athletic previously reported the head coach had been suspended.

Tucker is the subject of a sexual harassment investigation, as detailed in a report by Dan Murphy of ESPN.

Kenny Jacoby of USA Today reported on Sunday that the investigation was launched after prominent sexual assault prevention advocate Brenda Tracy filed a complaint against Tucker in December saying that he sent her gifts, made inappropriate comments toward her and masturbated during a phone call without her consent.

"The idea that someone could know me and say they understand my trauma but then re-inflict that trauma on me is so disgusting to me, it's hard for me to even wrap my mind around it," Tracy told Jacoby. "It's like he sought me out just to betray me."

Tracy was invited to Michigan State by Tucker in August 2021 to speak to players and staff members about preventing sexual misconduct. She was also named an honorary captain for the team's spring football game last year. Jacoby noted that Tucker called Tracy multiple times after the game, and she said he asked her to meet him alone and "even suggested slipping into her hotel through a back door so no one would see him."

The university hired a Title IX attorney to investigate Tracy's claims after her complaint was filed. In March, Tucker wrote in a letter to the investigator that his relationship with Tracy was "mutually consensual and intimate," and he admitted to masturbating on the phone call while asserting that the act was consensual.

"Ms. Tracy's distortion of our mutually consensual and intimate relationship into allegations of sexual exploitation has really affected me," Tucker wrote in the letter. "I am not proud of my judgment and I am having difficulty forgiving myself for getting into this situation, but I did not engage in misconduct by any definition."

A hearing to determine whether Tucker violated the university's sexual harassment policy was reportedly scheduled for Oct. 5 and 6.

Tucker is in his fourth season as head coach of the Spartans. He is one of the highest-paid coaches in all of college sports after signing a 10-year, $95 million contract in November 2021. If Michigan State fires him with cause, it will result in a loss of the over $70 million remaining on his deal.

Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker is under university investigation for alleged sexual harassment, according to ESPN's Dan Murphy.

Brenda Tracy, a rape survivor who does advocacy work to educate athletes about sexual violence, said in a complaint to the school's Title IX office that Tucker sexually harassed her, according to USA Today's Kenny Jacoby.

Tucker and Tracy developed a relationship centered on her advocacy work over an eight-month period, and the alleged harassment occurred during an April 2022 phone call in which the Spartans head coach allegedly made sexual comments about Tracy and masturbated, according to Jacoby.

Tucker admitted to masturbating on the phone call while speaking with a Title IX investigator, per Jacoby. However, he said that he and Tracy had consensual "phone sex."

"The idea that someone could know me and say they understand my trauma but then re-inflict that trauma on me is so disgusting to me, it's hard for me to even wrap my mind around it," she told USA Today. "It's like he sought me out just to betray me."

Tracy filed a complaint with Michigan State's Title IX office in December that remains under investigation. The university also hired an outside Title IX investigator who finished an investigation in July.

A hearing to determine whether Tucker violated Michigan State's policy on sexual harassment and exploitation is set for the team's bye week on Oct. 5 and 6.

ESPN submitted a public records request to Michigan State on July 30 "seeking documents related to any complaints alleging that Tucker violated the university's relationship violence and sexual misconduct policy," but the request was denied, per Murphy.

"Under FOIA's privacy exemption, information is exempt if (1) it is personal in nature, and (2) disclosure would reveal little to nothing about the inner workings of the government. Information is personal in nature when it is intimate, embarrassing, private, or confidential," Michigan State wrote in its denial.

ESPN is exploring potential litigation against the university as it believes the denial is a violation of Michigan's open records law, according to Murphy.

Tucker was hired as head coach of the Spartans football program ahead of the 2020 season. He agreed to a 10-year, $95 million contract extension with the school in November 2021.

Michigan State can fire Tucker with cause "if the coach engaged in any conduct which constitutes moral turpitude or, which in the university's reasonable judgment, would tend to bring public disrespect, contempt or ridicule," his contract states, per Murphy.