Michigan State fires Mel Tucker for cause with over $79 million left on contract

Michigan State University officially fired head football coach Mel Tucker for cause on Wednesday, leaving over $79 million remaining on his contract.

The move comes ten days after the University and athletic director Alan Haller gave Tucker written notice of termination on Sept. 18, which was required per Tucker's contract. The notice provided the head coach seven days to respond and dispute whether he should be fired for cause.

Tucker and his lawyers responded with a 25-page letter to Haller, claiming Michigan State had no justification to fire him for cause, despite allegations of sexual harassment by sexual misconduct prevention advocate Brenda Tracy.

"[Tucker] did not engage in unprofessional or unethical behavior or 'moral turpitude' by any stretch of the imagination," the letter states. "In fact, as discussed below, under Michigan law, assault and battery does not even constitute 'moral turpitude,' and the flimsy foundation of the university's finding -- a private relationship involving mutual flirting and one instance of consensual phone sex -- falls far short of the mark."

On Wednesday, Haller and Michigan State moved ahead with their decision to fire Tucker for cause after "thoroughly reviewing" the response from Tucker.

"Simply put, the response does not provide any information that refutes or undermines the multiple grounds for termination for cause set forth in the notice," Haller writes. "Instead, the 25-page response, which includes a 12-page letter from your attorney and a 13-page 'expert report', provides a litany of excuses for your inappropriate behavior while expressly admitting to the problematic conduct outlined in the notice."

Tucker was suspended without pay on Sept. 10 by Haller after a USA Today report detailed allegations of sexual harassment against Tucker by Tracy, a rape survivor who spoke to Michigan State's football team in 2021 about sexual assault prevention. She also served as an honorary captain during MSU football's spring game in 2022. Tracy claims Tucker made unwanted advances, including masturbating during a phone call with her, while he maintains that their relationship was consensual.

By firing Tucker for cause, Michigan State aims to avoid paying the head coach the nearly $80 million remaining on his contract. Tucker signed a 10-year, $95 million contract extension in the midst of the 2021 football season. That season, the Spartans went 11-2, defeated rival Michigan in a Top 10 showdown, reached as high as No. 3 in the College Football Playoff committee rankings and ultimately won the Peach Bowl. Tucker was named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2021.

Two years later, Tucker is out at Michigan State after finishing with a 20-14 overall record leading the Spartans.

MSU football's acting head coach, Harlon Barnett, is being named interim coach pending approval by the university's board during their October meeting. Former head coach Mark Dantonio continues to serve in an advisory role to Barnett this season. The Spartans are 0-2 and have been outscored 72-16 in two games since Tucker's suspension, and will travel to Iowa this Saturday as an 11.5-point underdog.

With Tucker's firing official, the transfer portal now opens to any Michigan State football player wanting to leave the program for 30 days. Since being appointed acting head coach, Barnett has said on multiple occasions that none of the current Spartan players have approached him about not finishing the 2023 season.

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