Michigan State University has stopped issuing the harshest possible punishment against former football coach Mel Tucker after disciplining him for sexual misconduct.
On Friday, Michigan State permanently barred Tucker from any future employment or college affiliation — something that was highly unlikely anyway, given that he was fired for cause in late September.
The sanctions, effective immediately, mark his formal punishment after a campus investigation found him responsible for the sexual harassment and exploitation of Brenda Tracy, a rape survivor and prominent activist against sexual violence, whom he hired to speak to his staff.
investigationMichigan State football coach Mel Tucker is accused of sexually harassing rape survivors
However, school officials refused to prevent Tucker from setting foot on campus or attending Spartans sporting events — other options available to them under school policy.
Auburn University imposed such a ban on its former softball coach, Corey Myers, in December 2017 after a Title IX investigation found Myers had multiple inappropriate romantic relationships with students he supervised. Auburn has banned him from future employment and campus and Tigers softball events on or off campus. Myers had resigned from Auburn nine months earlier.
The University of Louisville also banned former dance coach Todd Sharp from campus in 2018 after he accidentally shot himself in the leg with a handgun during a banquet for the school's baseball team.
But imposing such a ban on Tucker could be risky, said David Ring, a California-based attorney who represents sexual assault survivors — especially if another school recruits him and his new team plays a game against the Spartans. In this case, the State of Michigan must be ready and willing to arrest him.
“I can see why they might not have wanted to go that far and kind of kept it broad,” Ring said. “‘You’ll never work here again, and you can’t go out there saying you’re somehow subordinate to us.’ That seems reasonable.”
Tracy declined to comment for this story. Tucker and his attorney, Jennifer Belleville, did not respond to messages seeking comment. Michigan State spokeswoman Emily Geraint did not explain why more stringent penalties were not imposed.
“As a result of the finding of error in the investigation into violence and sexual misconduct at the university in which Mr. Tucker was involved, the university has decided to restrict future employment at MSU (paid or unpaid) as well as bar any future affiliation with the university,” Geraint said in an email to USA TODAY.
In a complaint filed with the university's Title IX office, Tracy said Tucker masturbated without her consent during a phone call in April 2022 — the culmination of what she described as months of unwanted sexual advances. Tucker told the school's outside investigator that he and Tracy developed a romantic relationship and engaged in consensual phone sex.
Michigan State suspended Tucker without pay on Sept. 10, hours after Tracy went public with her allegations in a USA TODAY investigation. A week later, sporting director Alan Haller moved to fire Tucker for cause, voiding the remaining $80 million on his 10-year contract. Even Tucker's admitted conduct, Haller wrote in his termination letter, was a dismissible offense.
“It is unprofessional and unethical to flirt, make sexual comments and masturbate while on the phone with a college salesman,” the letter said. “The unprofessional and unethical conduct is particularly egregious given that the university contracted with the vendor in question for the sole purpose of educating student-athletes about inappropriate sexual misconduct and preventing instances of sexual misconduct.”
After an eight-month fact-finding investigation and formal hearing, the school's external resolution officer, Amanda Norris Ames, concluded on October 25 that Tucker's account was less plausible, less consistent and less supported by evidence than Tracy's account.
By a preponderance of the evidence, Ames determined that Tucker violated the school's sexual misconduct policy because of his conduct during the infamous phone call and in the months leading up to it. The officer also determined that Tucker engaged in quid pro quo sexual harassment after the call, when he terminated Tracy's business relationship with the university as a result of rejecting his advances.
Tucker appealed the decision, saying the school subjected him to an unfair process and improperly investigated his personal life. An external appeals officer appointed by the school denied his appeal on January 11, ruling that the investigation and Ames's conclusions were fair and reasonable.
Tucker has indicated he will sue the state of Michigan for wrongful termination but has not yet filed suit.
Tucker has repeatedly described himself as the real victim in the case. He said the university conducted a “sham” investigation aimed at terminating his record-breaking contract. He questioned the motives of the Michigan State Board of Trustees and the leadership of the athletic department. He accused the school's external investigator of bias against him and against men more broadly. He also claimed that Tracy made up the allegations in a conspiracy for money. He revealed her consensual relationship with another man and published a collection of private messages between her and her friend, who died months ago in a car accident, to portray her in a negative light.
Any school that takes a second chance with Tucker would incur a significant amount of legal exposure, Ring said, because it could find itself on the hook for financial damages if someone else accuses Tucker of sexual harassment. Ring said Tucker's tactic of burning the ground to defend himself should make any school wary.
“This man has accused every MSU official of misconduct or unfair play. He has become very aggressive in his lawsuit, and the facts are not really in dispute. “He admitted to improper conduct that is unlawful if you deviate from the Title IX findings,” Ring said. “Who's going to bring this guy on board?”
Kenny Jacoby is an investigative reporter for USA TODAY covering sexual harassment, violence and Title IX. Contact him via email at kjacoby@usatoday.com and follow him on X @KennyJacoby.
