Michigan State has filed written notice with Mel Tucker of its intent to terminate his contract, the school announced Monday.
Tucker has been suspended since last Sunday after USA Today reported late last Saturday night that the Michigan State coach was accused of sexually harassing sexual assault activist Brenda Tracy. Tucker has maintained their relationship was consensual and outside the bounds of Michigan State's purview. "Brenda Tracy's allegations are completely false," Tucker said.
The school intends to terminate for cause, which would void the $75 million remaining on the 10-year contract he signed in November 2021.
Here’s the first four pages of Michigan State’s notice to terminate Mel Tucker’s contract for cause: pic.twitter.com/AmMiQcBs3i
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) September 18, 2023
An investigation into the incident in question, which occurred in the spring of 2022, has been open since December. The school is scheduled to hold a hearing Oct. 5-6. Tucker has claimed the investigation is not within the bounds of its authority over him as his employer, and that the hearing will not be a fair one, mainly in that Tracy would not be made available for cross examination. Tracy responded: “October 5 and 6 I will be present for the hearing and make myself available for cross examination by (Tucker’s) attorney Jennifer Belveal. I invite him to do the same.”
Regardless, Michigan State plans to move on -- and has evidently already started moving on -- independent of next month's hearing.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.