Mel Tucker has filed a wrongful termination against Michigan State over his September firing, USA Today reported Thursday.
Tucker's suit alleges that Michigan State never would've fired Tucker if Brenda Tracy hadn't gone public with her allegations against Tucker through USA Today back on Sept. 10. Tracy accused Tucker of sending untoward text messages to her and masturbating on a phone call without her consent more than a year prior to the allegations going public. The two had struck up a professional relationship as part of Tracy's business advocating against sexual harassment and assault to college football programs.
In an emergency press conference hours after the allegations went public, Tucker's suit claims Michigan State interim president Teresa Woodruff and AD Doug Haller made false statements against Tucker. While naming those two along with all eight members of the MSU Board of Trustees, it also accuses Woodruff and Haller of defamation. Tucker also accuses MSU of race-based discrimination.
Michigan State fired Tucker for cause on Sept. 27. The suit seeks unspecified monetary damages; Tucker had in the neighborhood of $75 million remaining on his contract.
The suit also claims Michigan State fired Tucker before the completion of its own investigation.
“Once Tracy’s claims and the illegitimate investigative materials were made public by Tracy herself,” the lawsuit claims, university officials “conspired to establish a pretextual basis to terminate Plaintiff’s contract without a hearing.”
Michigan State held a hearing on Oct. 5, which Tucker did not attend, and in January MSU's outside attorneys found Tracy's version of events more plausible than Tucker's.
Tucker is not in coaching as the 2024 season approaches, and it's unclear if he will ever coach again.
"By improperly weaponizing the University's investigative procedures against Plaintiff,” the suit claims, “the Defendants have caused, and continue to cause, Plaintiff to experience severe emotional harm and suffering, and have caused hundreds of millions in damages."
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.