College Football HQ

Ex-Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker sues school

Mel Tucker is suing Michigan State, with the former Spartans football coach saying the school wrongfully terminated and defamed him last year.
James Parks|
Former Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker is suing the university claiming wrongful termination.
Former Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker is suing the university claiming wrongful termination. | Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Michigan State Spartans

Former Michigan State head football coach Mel Tucker has filed a lawsuit against the university, alleging the school wrongfully terminated him and defamed him, according to reports.

The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Michigan, accuses the school of conducting an "improper, biased, and sham investigation" that was designed to fire him amid a sexual harassment scandal last fall.

Tucker also alleges the school violated his right to due process and has accused the university of discriminating against him because of his race. Tucker is black.

"By improperly weaponizing the University's investigative procedures against Plaintiff, the Defendants have caused, and continue to cause, Plaintiff to experience several emotional harm and suffering, and have caused hundreds of millions in damages," the suit claims.

Michigan State originally suspended Tucker and then fired him after claiming he sexually harassed anti-sexual violence activist Brenda Tracy.

Tucker's suit against the school is seeking compensation, but does not include a specific amount.

Michigan State signed Tucker to a 10-year, $95 million contract extension and had nearly $80 million remaining on the deal when he was terminated.

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James Parks
JAMES PARKS

James Parks is the founder and publisher of College Football HQ. He has covered football for a decade, previously managing several team sites and publishing national content for 247Sports.com for five years. His work has also been published on CBSSports.com. He founded College Football HQ in 2020, and the site joined the Sports Illustrated Fannation Network in 2022 and the On SI network in 2024.

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