Tucker says 'other motives' are behind MSU's move to fire him as football coach

Suspended Michigan State head football coach Mel Tucker spoke out Tuesday morning, a day after the university announced it intends to fire him, saying in a statement that he is disappointed but not surprised with the decision, suggesting that "other motives" are at work.

Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller announced Monday that he had informed Tucker of his intention to terminate the rest of his historic, 10-year, $95 million contract over allegations of sexual misconduct brought late last year by Brenda Tracy, a survivor of gang rape and an activist whom the university hired to speak to student-athletes when she and Tucker became friends.

"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," Tucker said in a six-paragraph statement sent out by his agent Tuesday. "A cursory reading of the facts and timeline should cause any fair-minded person to conclude that other motives are at play."

Tucker then laid out four bullet points in his statement, arguing that Michigan State since March knew information later used to justify the firing, but only decided to fire him after Tracy went public in a USA Today story published on Sept. 10; and that he is being denied due process, with the university planning to fire him before a scheduled hearing in October on the matter.

Tucker also complained that the termination letter was sent "just days" after he requested a medical leave "for a serious health condition." Tucker's agent, Neil Cornrich, declined to share additional details about the health issue when contacted Tuesday by The News. Cornrich said Tucker requested the leave through the Family and Medical Leave Act but was told by Haller the request was "unnecessary." Cornrich said Haller didn't inquire into the issue.

Michigan State, meanwhile, is continuing with the hearing the week of Oct. 5, when Tucker and Tracy will be able to question each other through their attorneys. MSU signaled Tuesday that regardless of the resolution following that hearing, Tucker's actions warranted firing. Michigan State is citing a clause in his contract that says he can be fired for cause if his actions bring embarrassment to the university.

Tucker stands to lose out on more than $80 million if Michigan State's intention to fire him with cause stands up in court. Tucker signaled Tuesday that a lawsuit is coming against the university, the Board of Trustees and the athletic department. He expressed interest in the discovery process, "to see what they really knew and said about this matter, as well as their motives in handling the entire investigative process."

Tracy went public with her story only after learning her name had been leaked to the media, in an attempt to have control over her own story, she has said.

The university is investigating the source of the leak of Tracy's identity to an unknown media outlet.

On Tuesday, Tucker said he expressed concerns to the university about leaks of an investigation into him in August, when Michigan State was receiving multiple Freedom of Information Act requests on Tucker (it denied them, citing privacy). Tucker said in his statement Tuesday that "MSU never acknowledged my request, let alone responded.

"MSU is punishing me for Ms. Tracy’s leak, which violated MSU's rules regarding confidentiality of the investigation," Tucker said in his statement. He continued: "When I complain, nothing happens; when she complains, MSU acts? This double-standard reflects the bias against me throughout the process."

Tucker, 51, has acknowledged he had a flirtatious relationship with Tracy, and also acknowledged a late-night phone call on which he masturbated. He called it consensual; Tracy has said it wasn't, and that triggered the formal complaint in December.

Michigan State initially suspended Tucker without pay hours after the USA Today story dropped Sept. 10, after he had coached the first two games of the season. Haller then sent Tucker a five-page letter Tuesday, telling him the university intends to fire him. Tucker has seven days to respond in an attempt to keep his job; if the school finds Tucker's answers unsatisfactory, he will be officially fired Tuesday, Sept. 26.

"I can only conclude that MSU does not care about my rights, the truth, or its future liability for policing its employees' private lives," wrote Tucker, who is married but has acknowledged marital strain.

Tucker finished his statement, writing: "The public can decide if any of this rings true or fair."

In his statement last week, Tucker suggested race and the university's stained history with the Larry Nassar scandal were factors in the university, unfairly, in his opinion, taking action against him.

Tucker has more than $80 million left on the contract he signed in November 2021, in a deal that was partly funded by boosters Mat Ishbia ($14 million) and Steve St. Andre ($10 million). Those gift pledges are not contracts; either booster can cancel them at any time. Ishbia declined to comment when the allegations against Tucker first went public; his representative didn't immediately respond Tuesday when asked if he'll continue with his gift.

In his letter to Tucker, Haller outlined "undisputed" facts that led to the decision and "provide multiple grounds for termination," in reference to the accusations by Tracy.

Tracy's Lansing-based attorney, Karen Truszkowski, declined to comment Monday, and again Tuesday.

Michigan State hired Tucker in February 2020 to replace the retired Mark Dantonio, and he went 20-14 in three-plus seasons, including wins over Central Michigan and Richmond this season, while the investigation was pending. From March, when the university launched an outside inquiry into the matter, until he was suspended without pay, Tucker was paid nearly $5 million by Michigan State.

Harlon Barnett is Michigan State's interim head coach, and Dantonio was brought out of retirement to serve as an associate head coach and an adviser to Barnett.

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