While the university conducts an investigation into charges that Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker sexually harassed a well-known sexual assault awareness speaker after she was contracted to address the Spartan team, Tucker has been placed on leave without pay.
Less than 24 hours after learning about the allegations against the fourth-year head coach, Tucker was given an interim suspension by athletic director Alan Haller on Sunday night. At a press conference, Haller was joined by interim university president Teresa Woodruff, who expressed her complete support for Haller’s choice. Below is the video of the press conference.
According to information published by USA Today on Sunday, Brenda Tracy, who runs a nonprofit organization that works to raise awareness about sexual misconduct, particularly 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 speaking with her on the phone without her consent. Tucker admitted to participating in the behavior, but claimed it was consensual.
What’s next for Michigan State Football
Haller said “The university’s objective has been and remains focused on conducting a fair, thorough and unbiased investigation and allowing the processes to play out,”
In Tucker’s absence, Haller announced that longtime Michigan State assistant Harlon Barnett would act as temporary head coach. Mark Dantonio, the former head coach of the Spartans, will also rejoin the squad this week and take on the role of associate head coach. In February 2020, Dantonio decided to retire.
Haller claimed that shortly after Tracy made the allegations in late December, he was initially informed that Tucker had been charged with sexual misconduct at the institution. In order to determine if Tucker had broken the university’s sexual misconduct policy, Michigan State hired a third-party investigator.
According to Haller, the investigator submitted her findings on July 25 and suggested that the school schedule a hearing to determine whether Tucker had broken any rules. The first week of October is the date set for that hearing.