Michigan State head football coach Mel Tucker responded to the university’s notice of its intent to terminate his contract.
In a statement released Tuesday, Tucker said there are “other motives at play” in the school’s decision to initiate the process of termination. He also indicated the university has an agenda and “ignored its own policies in a biased investigation” against him and called the entire process a “miscarriage of justice.”
The university initiated the process of firing the suspended coach with cause, the school announced Monday. Tucker was suspended without pay last Sunday after details of an investigation into allegations that he sexually harassed prominent sexual assault awareness activist Brenda Tracy surfaced in media reports.
Tucker claims that the university has had the information which it is now using to terminate his contract since March 2023. Tucker implies the university only acted on the information after the report was leaked to the public and media and reports surfaced.
“Let’s be clear. I don’t believe MSU plans to fire me because I admitted to entirely consensual, private relationship with another adult who gave one presentation at MSU, at my behest, over two years ago,” Tucker said in the statement. “Yet only after Ms. Tracy and potentially others leaked the confidential investigation report to the press, did MSU suddenly decide this same information warrants termination.”
Tucker argues that the school has denied him due process by terminating him before a scheduled hearing in the case (Oct. 5). He said athletic director Alan Haller flip-flopped after Tucker was initially suspended as the investigation continued.
“About one week later, with no new information, MSU moved to terminate me – sanctimoniously and illogically claiming this action has no impact on the ongoing investigation,” Tucker said in the statement. “The investigation is designed to determine if I violated policy. I did not. But regardless, basic fairness requires that process play out before any sanction(s) are determined.”
Tucker has more than $77 million remaining on his contract, which the school would not have to pay him if he is fired with cause.
