What’s felt inevitable for weeks looks like it’s about to become a reality: Michigan State has to formally fired Mel Tucker today.
Source: Michigan State is expected to formally fire Mel Tucker for cause today. The school had informed him that they intended to fire him for cause him last week.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 27, 2023
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported late Wednesday morning that Tucker, 51, was expected to “formally fire Tucker for cause,” a week after giving Tucker his termination notice.
Now, MSU has made it official.
Michigan State makes official: "Specifically, the university terminated Tucker’s contract for his admitted and undisputed behaviors which have brought public disrespect, contempt and ridicule upon the university; and constitute a material breach of his agreement, and moral… https://t.co/xg2Fovfbt3
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 27, 2023
Tucker has been suspended since Sept. 10. The reason for Tucker’s suspension is a sexual harassment charge from rape survivor and anti-rape, anti-sexual harassment activist Brenda Tracy.
Tucker has been under investigation since December. Tracy alleges that he masturbated during a phone call with her. Tucker admitted to masturbating, but said it was consensual and part of phone sex. Tracy denies that it was consensual.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Not long after he was suspended, Tucker published a statement through his attorney, Jennifer Belviel, denying the allegations.
Harlon Barnett is currently Michigan State’s acting head coach, a longtime Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio has rejoined the staff as associate head coach.
If this holds true, Mel Tucker will be gone from Michigan State after a little more than three seasons in East Lansing.
His final record will be 20-14 overall and 12-13 in the Big Ten. The highlight of Tucker’s MSU tenure was the 2021 season in which Sparty finished 11-2. This effort led to Tucker getting a 10-year, $95 million contract extension.
This lawsuit is another example of Michigan State been dealing with a sexual assault allegation. The University failed to act for nearly two decades against former sports medicine Dr. Larry Nassar, who worked with the school’s gymnastics team.
Penn State went 2-1 against Tucker’s Michigan State teams, with the lone loss coming in Nov. 2021 in East Lansing.
