Sep 10, 2023, 04:17 PM ET
Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker is suspended without pay while the university completes an investigation into claims that he sexually harassed a prominent sexual assault awareness speaker after she was hired to speak with the Spartan team.
Athletic director Alan Haller announced Tucker's interim suspension Sunday night, less than 24 hours after news of the claims against the fourth-year head coach were made public in reports from ESPN and USA Today. Interim university president Teresa Woodruff appeared alongside Haller at a news conference and said she fully supported Haller's decision.
Brenda Tracy, who operates a non-profit company that tries to raise awareness about sexual misconduct especially among college athletes, told university investigators that Tucker sent her gifts, asked if she would date him if he wasn't married and masturbated while on the phone with her without her consent, according to details reported by USA Today Sunday. Tucker told investigators he did take part in the behavior, but that it was consensual.
Any formal decision on Tucker's job status, and the more than $77 million that remains on his contract, isn't expected to be decided until the hearing concludes.
Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker is suspended without pay while the university completes an investigation into claims that he sexually harassed a prominent sexual assault awareness speaker after she was hired to speak with the Spartan team.
Athletic director Alan Haller announced Tucker's interim suspension Sunday night, less than 24 hours after news of the claims against the fourth-year head coach were made public in reports from ESPN and USA Today. Interim university president Teresa Woodruff appeared alongside Haller at a news conference and said she fully supported Haller's decision.
Brenda Tracy, who operates a non-profit company that tries to raise awareness about sexual misconduct especially among college athletes, told university investigators that Tucker sent her gifts, asked if she would date him if he wasn't married and masturbated while on the phone with her without her consent, according to details reported by USA Today Sunday. Tucker told investigators he did take part in the behavior, but that it was consensual.
Any formal decision on Tucker's job status, and the more than $77 million that remains on his contract, isn't expected to be decided until the hearing concludes.
