Tucker was hired by MSU in 2020 with a 10-year, $95 million contract that made him the second highest paid coach in the sport. In the 2021 season, Tucker garnered national accolades for his team’s impressive record. His standing diminished in subsequent seasons as his on-field performance steadily declined, though his downfall was ultimately brought on by his conduct off the field.
In September 2023, Tucker was suspended amid allegations of sexual harassment from Brenda Tracy, an anti-sexual violence advocate he had hired to speak to his players. Soon after, he was fired by MSU because — though he denied the accusation of harassment — he admitted to what he called a consensual relationship with Tracy. A university investigation later found that he had sexually harassed her.
Tucker has since disputed his termination in a federal lawsuit against MSU. He also recently filed his intent to sue the university in state court, arguing that MSU should pay his legal fees in a separate defamation lawsuit he’s facing from Tracy.Michigan State University reported itself to the NCAA for alleged recruiting violations under former football head coach Mel Tucker, triggering a new investigation into the university, according to three people with knowledge of the decision.
The university announced the investigation last month, but didn’t give any details on how it came about.
The three people spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation. MSU declined to comment on this story, pointing to a previous statement from the athletics department that “Michigan State athletics has cooperated with the NCAA to review a potential matter concerning the football program under the former staff and will continue to do so for the duration of the process.”
The self-imposed probe could further complicate MSU’s escalating dispute with the former coach, who has brought multiple lawsuits against the university and its leaders since his termination in 2023.
It’s unclear if the NCAA investigation, or the circumstances surrounding it, have anything to do with the announcement today of Athletic Director Alan Haller’s departure from MSU.
Also unknown is the contents of the investigation, or the severity of the alleged violations, as MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz declined to provide details when he first disclosed the investigation in an interview with The Detroit News, or when pressed in a subsequent interview with The State News. He did, however, suggest that the alleged recruiting issues were confined to the Tucker era.
“We’re trying to make the case that this is a whole new coaching staff,” Guskiewicz told The Detroit News, referencing Jonathan Smith, who took over as football head coach for the 2024 season.
A university reporting itself to the NCAA for violations is not uncommon. Recent guidance asks that member universities report any violations they discover, and self-reports are listed among the top sources of investigations in recent annual reports.
