Mel Tucker will not be leading the Michigan State football program in the immediate future, if not beyond.
Athletic director Alan Haller announced Sunday that the Spartans' head coach has been suspended without pay amid an investigation into sexual harassment allegations.
USA Today released a report in the early morning of Sunday, Sept. 10, detailing an ongoing investigation into Tucker's conduct after prominent sexual assault prevention advocate Brenda Tracy filed a complaint to Michigan State's Title IX office in December of 2022.
"This investigation is not complete," Haller told reporters at a news conference, adding that no final decision on Tucker's status will be made before a previously scheduled hearing the week of Oct. 5.
Tucker is currently in his fourth season as head coach at Michigan State. The Spartans went 11-2 two years ago and won the Peach Bowl with Tucker at the helm, but dropped down to 5-7 last season.
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Here's everything you need to know about the allegations and what they mean for the Michigan State head coach:
Mel Tucker harassment allegations, explained
According to the USA Today report, Tracy met Tucker in 2021 when she visited the Spartans' campus to discuss sexual misconduct prevention. Tracy alleges that Tucker sent her unwanted gifts, repeatedly called her and engaged in non-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," Tracy said to USA Today. "It’s like he sought me out just to betray me."
Tracy alleges that Tucker sent her gifts, masturbated without her consent during a phone call and made multiple inquiries about dating him. This came after she made two separate appearances at Michigan State in August of 2021 and April of 2022 to discuss sexual misconduct prevention.
After Tracy was named as the honorary captain for a spring game during that April visit, she alleges that Tucker repeatedly called her and asked to meet him alone. He "even suggested slipping into her hotel through a back door so no one would see him," according to the USA Today report.
In a letter to the investigator, Tucker, who is married, called the relationship between himself and Tracy as "mutually consensual and intimate."
"Ms. Tracy's distortion of our mutually consensual and intimate relationship into allegations of sexual exploitation has really affected me," Tucker wrote in the March 22 letter to the investigator, according to the USA Today report. "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."
Tracy denied this claim, stating that the romantic interest in the relationship was "one-sided." She has said she feels as though Tucker is "following through on a threat to ruin her career and reputation by painting her as a woman who mixes professional and personal relationships and files false reports."
Michigan State hired an outside attorney to investigate the complaint a few months ago, and the investigation concluded in July.
Tracy's social advocacy organization, Set The Expectation, released a statement on Monday after the news of Tucker's suspension:
— Set The Expectation (@STEnonprofit) September 11, 2023
"Out nonprofit knows, with unblinking clarity, the immense challenge of coming forward as a survivor of sexual misconduct or violence. The news surrounding our founder, Brenda Tracy, highlights how necessary this work continues to be in our society. When people come forward to report misconduct, assault and/or violence, they deserve compassion, protection, and empathy. Instead, survivors are more often met with skepticism, victim-blaming, threats of violence, and personal attacks.
"...If nothing else, the recent news reminds us that the work to eradicate sexual violence must continue if we ever hope to see progress. We continue to hope and we will continue to work."
Tucker's representation fired back as well, as Tucker released a statement through his agent stating Tracy's claims were "completely false."
Statement from Mel Tucker, via his attorney:
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) September 11, 2023
"Brenda Tracy’s allegations of harassment are completely false."
"I have no intention of allowing Ms. Tracy’s character assassination to go unaddressed."
Pushes back against many specific claims and the fairness of the hearing. pic.twitter.com/4ykE5ke6aL
"I have no intention of allowing Ms. Tracy’s character assassination to go unaddressed."
The school had scheduled a hearing for Oct. 5 and 6 to determine whether Tucker violated the school’s policy banning sexual harassment and exploitation.
Who is Michigan State's interim head coach?
With Tucker suspended, Harlon Barnett will serve as acting head coach for the time being.
Barnett, who is in his 15th season at Michigan State and fourth with Tucker, began this season as the secondary coach
In addition, former Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio will become an associate head coach on the staff. Dantonio held the head coaching position with the Spartans from 2007 to 2019, when he announced his retirement.
Harlon Barnett will serve as acting head coach, and Mark Dantonio will become an associate head coach.
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 10, 2023
Alan Haller provides an update on the Michigan State staff changes during Mel Tucker's suspension. pic.twitter.com/i7aFMQF5WQ
Who is Brenda Tracy?
Tracy is a prominent advocate against sexual assault and a rape survivor.
She was the victim of a gang rape in 1998 by four Oregon State football players, and none of her attackers were charged in her cases. In 2014, she shared her story publicly began a career in social advocacy against sexual violence.
Currently Tracy travels across the country speaking to audiences about sexual violence and the changes that need to be made in today's society to combat it.
She has spoken on numerous college campuses, with a special focus on football teams.
Mel Tucker contract
Tucker is currently in his fourth season with Michigan State, and is in his second year of a 10-year contract extension he signed in November of 2021 that's worth roughly $95 million. He is one of the highest-paid coaches not just in the NCAA, but in all of sports.
Tucker's deal calls for him to be paid $9.5 million per year until 2032 even if he is fired, but it does include an exception for a dismissal with cause.
Among the criteria in that clause is "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."
