Michigan State has officially fired football coach Mel Tucker.
Athletic director Alan Haller sent Tucker a termination notice Wednesday to finish the coach’s four-year tenure amid sexual harassment allegations, which included masturbating during a phone call with a rape survivor and activist.
Michigan State said it’s terminating the agreement “for cause.”
“No statement in your attorney’s Response attempting to undermine the jurisdiction of the investigation, justify your actions, or call into query the University’s rational and justified decision to terminate your contract for cause ‘present reason to the Athletic Director and the University’s President as to why [why] you need to not be terminated on the bottom state’ within the Notice,” the notice to Tucker said.
“It’s immaterial if, as you allege, these actions were purportedly consensual and by some means occurred outside of your workplace. Because the University previously stated, ‘[i]t is decidedly unprofessional and unethical to flirt, make sexual comments, and masturbate while on the phone with a University vendor.’
“Your unconvincing rationalizations and misguided attempts to shift responsibility cannot and don’t excuse your personal behavior. Had you not engaged on this inappropriate and unprofessional conduct, the University wouldn’t be subject to public disrespect and mock regarding your actions.”
Michigan State began moving toward parting ways with Tucker after a USA Today report chronicled alleged sexual harassment from Tucker toward Brenda Tucker, whom Tucker had hired to talk to his team and honored as an honorary captain for a spring football game.
Tucker is alleged to have masturbated during a phone call with Tracy, sent her gifts and asked if she would date him were he not married.
Michigan State suspended Tucker following the report before alerting him they intended to fireplace him.
Tucker then responded to the allegations, alleging “bias” and “other motives are at play.”
The university then officially terminated Tucker’s contract Wednesday.
Tucker is within the second season of a 10-year, $95 million extension he signed in 2021. He went 20-14 spanning his three-plus season with the Spartans.
