Michigan State University Suspends Head Football Coach Mel Tucker Following Sexual Harassment Allegations

Michigan State University suspended its head football coach, Mel Tucker, on Sunday following allegations of sexual harassment.

The allegations were made public in a USA Today report on Saturday, which stated that rape survivor and activist Brenda Tracy had accused Tucker of sexually harassing her during a phone call last year.

University President Teresa K. Woodruff and athletic director Alan Haller announced the suspension pending the results of an outside investigation into the allegations. A hearing is scheduled for the week of Oct. 5 to determine if Tucker violated the school’s sexual harassment and exploitation policy.

Tucker had only been at the institution since 2020 and had signed a 10-year, $95 million contract extension.

Michigan State officials said that a third-party inquiry ended in July but that a hearing scheduled for October and other matters “still need to be played out,” Haller said at a news conference.

The university said it is committed to providing a safe and respectful environment for all members of its community and that it takes all allegations of sexual harassment seriously. It is unclear at this time what the outcome of the investigation will be.