Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller\u00a0told suspended football coach\u00a0Mel Tucker\u00a0Monday that he will be fired without compensation for misconduct involving activist and rape survivor Brenda Tracy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe notice provides Tucker with seven calendar days to respond and present reasons to me and the interim president as to why he should not be terminated for cause,\u201d Haller said in a statement sent by the school.<\/p>\n
Tucker is in the third year of a $95 million, 10-year contract and if he is fired for cause, the school would not have to pay him what\u2019s remaining on his deal.<\/p>\n
Haller said the decision does not affect the ongoing investigation into Tracy’s allegations of sexual harassment, which is being handled by the school’s office for civil rights.<\/p>\n
Tracy said Tucker sexually harassed her during a phone call in April 2022. Eight months later, Tracy filed a complaint with the school\u2019s Title IX office and the investigation was completed in July. A hearing is scheduled for the week of Oct. 5 to determine if Tucker violated the school\u2019s sexual harassment and exploitation policy and a ruling could take up to 60 days.<\/p>\n
Michigan State isn’t waiting that long to make a move.<\/p>\n
The 51-year-old Tucker, who said he is estranged from his wife and has two children,\u00a0said the allegations against him are \u201ccompletely false.\u201d Tucker insisted that the intimate phone call he had with Tracy was consensual and outside the scope of both Title IX and school policy.<\/p>\n
The school has said \u201cunprofessional behavior and not living up to the core values of the department and university\u201d was the reason Tucker was suspended last week.<\/p>\n
Tracy is known for her work\u00a0with college teams, educating athletes about sexual violence. Michigan State paid her $10,000 to share her story with the football team.<\/p>\n
The Spartans (2-1) were\u00a0routed 41-7 by No. 8 Washington\u00a0on Saturday in Harlon Barnett\u2019s debut as interim coach. Michigan State hosts Maryland (3-0) on Saturday.<\/p>\n