Michigan State to Fire Football Coach Mel Tucker Following Sexual Harassment Allegations

Michigan State intends to fire head football coach Mel Tucker with cause, athletic director Alan Haller announced.

"I, with the support of administration and board, have provided Mel Tucker with written notice of intent to terminate his contract for cause," Haller said in a statement. "This notification process is required as part of his existing contract. The notice provides Tucker with seven calendar days to respond and present reasons to me and the interim president as to why he should not be terminated for cause."

"This action does not conclude the ongoing Office for Civil Rights case; that rigorous process will continue."

Michigan State hired law firm Jones Day to investigate a breach of confidential information about the Tucker accusations. The university also used Jones Day for a sexual assault investigation in 2017.

Tucker was accused of sexually harassing activist Brenda Tracy and suspended from his coaching duties on Sept. 10. One day after, Tucker said he and Tracy were in an intimate relationship from late 2021 to early 2022.

After taking over as the Spartans' coach in 2020, Tucker signed a 10-year, $95 million extension with Michigan State during the 2021 season.