Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker assessed what he called a "miscarriage of justice" after the school announced its intention to fire him for cause amid an investigation into sexual harassment allegations.
"Let's be clear. I don't believe MSU plans to fire me because I admitted to an entirely consensual, private relationship with another adult who gave one presentation at MSU, at my behest, over two years ago," he said Tuesday in a statement. "A cursory reading of the facts and timeline should cause any fair-minded person to conclude that other motives are at play."
Nicole Auerbach @NicoleAuerbachNEW: Mel Tucker has released the following statement, a day after MSU announced its intention to fire him for cause: <a href="">
Tucker added that "MSU ignored its own policies in pursuing a biased investigation."
USA Today's Kenny Jacoby reported on Sept. 10 that Michigan State was investigating Tucker due to allegations leveled by Brenda Tracy, a rape survivor who has become an activist for sexual violence awareness.
Per Jacoby, Tucker invited Tracy to Michigan State's campus on three occasions, and the two began to speak regularly over the phone. Tucker "started becoming interested in Tracy romantically" around the time that he signed his 10-year, $95 million extension with the school in November 2021.
Tucker maintained to investigators the feelings between he and Tracy were mutual, while Tracy asserted it "was entirely one-sided," according to Jacoby.
During one call in April 2022, Tucker allegedly made sexually suggestive comments to Tracy and began masturbating, per Jacoby. While Tucker said it was consensual phone sex, Tracy disputed that claim, affirming that she didn't consent to what Tucker did.
"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," she told Jacoby. "It's like he sought me out just to betray me."
In Tuesday's statement, Tucker said Tracy "manufactured false allegations against me." He also alleged that Tracy was among those who leaked confidential information connected to the case. Tracy's attorney said her client only went public when she did so because her identity had already been leaked to the media.
Michigan State initially suspended Tucker without pay in the wake of the report. Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller said Monday the university had formally provided Mel Tucker with "written notice of intent to terminate his contract for cause."
The Athletic's Nicole Auerbach provided the full letter that was addressed to the coach.
Nicole Auerbach @NicoleAuerbachHere's the first four pages of Michigan State's notice to terminate Mel Tucker's contract for cause: <a href="">
The school contended the "undisputed facts" that were uncovered during the investigation "provide multiple grounds for termination under the Agreement's Early Termination Provision."
ESPN's Pete Thamel noted there's $79 million outstanding on Tucker's contract.
