Suspended Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker hit back at the institution Tuesday, one day after the school began the process to terminate his contract for cause in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations.
In a statement released by attorney Neil Cornrich, Tucker — who is accused of sexually harassing activist and rape survivor Brenda Tracy during a phone call last year — alleges “bias” and “other motives are at play” in Michigan State’s decision to fire him.
“Ms. Tracy manufactured false allegations against me. MSU ignored its own policies in pursuing a biased investigation into them,” Tucker said, according to ESPN.
“I look forward to one day obtaining discovery against MSU, including the Trustees and the Athletic Department.”
Michigan State is preparing to fire Tucker for what athletic director Alan Haller described as “a body of undisputed evidence of misconduct that warrants termination for cause.”
USA Today reported earlier this month that Tucker, 51 masturbated during a phone call with Tracy in April 2022. He has claimed it was a consensual interaction.
Tucker’s contract granted him seven days to respond to the school’s notification, according to ESPN.
Elsewhere in the statement, Tucker said he is “disappointed – but not surprised” by Michigan State’s decision over what he calls a “baseless complaint against me” within the 1,200-page investigation file.
He claims Michigan State has known since March about the information it will use to terminate his contract, which still has seven-plus years remaining on the 10-year, $95 million extension.
Tucker alleges Michigan State only decided to fire him after “Ms. Tracy and potentially others leaked the confidential investigation report to the press.”
“MSU is punishing me for Ms. Tracy’s leak, which violated MSU’s rules regarding confidentiality of the investigation,” Tucker said.
Tucker blasted Michigan State for its handling of perceived leaks, saying the school didn’t care about his concerns but acted upon the concerns of Tracy’s attorney over the leaking of her client’s name.
“MSU ignored my concerns about leaks relating to the confidential investigations,” Tucker said. “On August 25, well before Ms. Tracy went public with the full file, I demanded an investigation into leaks. MSU never acknowledged my request, let alone responded.”
Tucker alleged that Haller informed him of the university’s plan to terminate his contract after he requested a medical leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act “for a serious health condition.”
The coach, who called the ordeal “a miscarriage of justice” that has “devastated” his family, added: “A cursory reading of the facts and timeline should cause any fire-minded person to conclude that other motives are at play.”