Mel Tucker responds to MSU in regards to his termination

EAST LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - Michigan State University (MSU) head coach Mel Tucker has responded to the university’s decision to part ways from him.

On Monday, Sept. 18, MSU’s athletic director announced that Mel Tucker would be fired. This comes after Tucker was embroiled in controversy after a USA Today report alleged Tucker had nonconsensual phone sex with a woman working with the football team on violence education.

Tucker released the statement below in response to the decision on Tuesday:

“I am disappointed—but not surprised—to learn that MSU intends to terminate my contract over Ms. Tracy’s improper public disclosure of the entire 1200-page investigation file regarding her baseless complaint against me. 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. A cursory reading of the facts and timeline should cause any fair-minded person to conclude that other motives are at play. Here is why:
I can only conclude that MSU does not care about my rights, the truth, or its future liability for policing its employees’ private lives. Ms. Tracy manufactured false allegations against me. MSU ignored its own policies in pursuing a biased investigation into them. MSU was supposedly going to let that flawed process play out before deciding what to do, but has now reneged on even that. While this miscarriage of justice has devastated me and my family, I find solace in knowing that the investigator concluded we had a “personal relationship.” Ms. Tracy expressed consent to every facet of our relationship. I look forward to one day obtaining discovery against MSU, including the Trustees and the Athletic Department, to see what they really knew and said about this matter, as well as their motives in handling the entire investigative process. MSU now claims that after having already terminated my employment, it is committed to completing the “formal grievance process”—a process that expressly calls for confidentiality (which MSU publicly acknowledged failing to provide)—to determine if I violated any school policy. The public can decide if any of this rings true or fair.”
Mel Tucker

Tucker’s contract was terminated with cause, according to MSU’s statement on Monday.

Subscribe to our News 10 newsletter and receive the latest local news and weather straight to your email every morning.

Mel Tucker responds to MSU in regards to his termination

Most Read

iPhone alerts responders to ORV crash in Sagola Twp, victim in critical condition

UPDATE: All charges dropped against 6 former MDOC employees for death of Alger County inmate

WWII-era plane converted into Airbnb

Iron Mountain man charged with felony for threatening 2 Dickinson County schools

COVID-19 spikes in Marquette wastewater, health department encouraging preventative strategies

Latest News

Baraga, L’Anse Area Schools discus possibility of consolidation

Ford pausing construction of Michigan battery plant amid contract talks with auto workers union

Mel Tucker’s attorney: Michigan State doesn’t have cause to fire suspended coach over phone sex

Biden is headed to Michigan to join the UAW picket line. He’s all-in on showing his union bona fides

Marquette City Commission approves fiscal year 2024 budget