Michigan State informs football coach Mel Tucker it plans to fire him for cause

EAST LANSING — Michigan State University has begun the process to fire Mel Tucker as head football coach.

Alan Haller, the school’s athletic director, sent a letter dated Monday that informed the 51-year-old Tucker that MSU plans to terminate his contract for cause.

“The University has become aware of various facts that have led to the unfortunate decision to terminate your employment for cause," the letter sent to Tucker's agent Neil Cornrich reads. "At this point, the University has amassed a body of undisputed evidence of misconduct that warrants termination for cause."

Tucker has seven days "to present reasons to the Athletic Director and the University's President" why he shouldn't be terminated for cause. If he cannot or does not, Tucker would be fired Sept. 26.

Haller suspended the fourth-year head coach Sept. 10 after a USA TODAY story detailed alleged sexual improprieties during an April 2022 phone call with Brenda Tracy, a prominent national sexual assault victims rights advocate. Harlon Barnett took over as acting head coach for the Spartans.

“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.”

THE NEXT STEP: What's next for Michigan State, Mel Tucker after he was told he's being fired

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

An MSU football program spokesman said the school has no comment beyond the statement and supporting documents, which includes the five-page letter to Tucker and a copy of his 2021 contract.

Tucker signed a 10-year, $95 million contract Nov. 24, 2021, while leading MSU to an 11-2 season and top-10 finish that season. He was hired Feb. 12, 2020, and holds a 20-14 career record with the Spartans.

Jennifer Z. Belveal, Tucker’s attorney in the university’s Office of Institutional Equity’s investigation into Tracy’s allegations, couldn't be reached for comment immediately.

In a statement released by Belveal last week, Tucker called the sexual assault allegations "completely false," and said he believes the investigation has been used as a way to allow MSU to get rid of Tucker without having to pay out his contract.

MSU, in the letter, cited Tucker's admitted actions of masturbating on a phone call with Tracy as reasons violated the moral turpitude clause in his contract and he materially breached the agreement for not conducting himself “professionally and ethically, with integrity and sportsmanship at all times.”

Tucker brought Tracy in to speak with his team in 2021 and named her honorary captain for the spring April 16, 2022. The phone call in question according to the USA TODAY report is alleged to have taken place 12 days later, on April 28, 2022. Tucker admitted to investigators that he masturbated during the call; Tracy said it was without her consent, but Tucker claimed it was consensual.

“It is decidedly unprofessional and unethical to flirt, make sexual comments, and masturbate while on the phone with a University vendor," the letter read. "The unprofessional and unethical behavior is particularly egregious given that the Vendor at issue was contracted by the University for the sole purpose of educating student-athletes on, and preventing instances of, inappropriate sexual misconduct." It also pointed to Tucker's actions having "brought public disrespect, contempt, and ridicule upon the university."

Since the USA TODAY story was published, Tracy has accused Michigan State or someone within the university of leaking her name to the media and said she spoke with USA TODAY separately in order to get her story out.

Now, the university has said it has hired the law firm Jones Day to investigate the "alleged breaches" of confidentiality.

Former MSU head coach Mark Dantonio has returned since Tucker was suspended to serve in an advisory role while secondary coach Harlon Barnett was named acting head coach. In their first game in charge, the Spartans were blown out 41-7 at home against Washington.

The school has a Title IX hearing on the investigation into Tracy's allegations against Tucker scheduled for Oct. 5-6.

"The investigation has not been fair or unbiased," Tucker said in the statement released last week. "I can only conclude that there is an ulterior motive designed to terminate my contract based on some other factor such as a desire to avoid any (sic) Nasser taint, or my race or gender. The sham 'hearing' scheduled for October 5-6 is ridiculously flawed and not designed to arrive at the truth."

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State plans to fire Mel Tucker for cause