Football coach Mel Tucker received a suspension from Michigan State. The suspension comes amid a sexual harassment investigation. The school’s director of athletics, Alan Haller said Sunday.
Michigan State Coach Mel Tucker’s Case
Haller did not say if Tucker would be fired, but he called a 5 p.m. press conference to discuss the matter. Reports based on an initial report by USA Today went underway. A Title IX investigation went underway after the university received a complaint from Brenda Tracy.
She is a prominent rape survivor and activist against sexual violence in college sports. She alleged Tucker sent her gifts, made sexually suggestive comments to her, and masturbated with her during a phone call. Tucker reportedly wrote to investigators that the relationship was “mutually consensual and intimate.”
Haller said that secondary coach Harlon Barnett will serve as acting head coach. Former Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio will assist in a presently undefined role. He also announced that the university will provide counseling resources for anyone who the news may impact.
Dozens of those victims testified at his sentencing. 156 of them gave victim impact statements. The scandal has left a deep shadow of distrust on the MSU campus from student employees.
Alumni of the school felt the university failed to act on reports of abuse. USA Today’s Kenny Jacoby spoke to CNN’s Poppy Harlow and Phil Mattingly on Monday. He said that MSU’s actions in the case have only served to erode trust on campus further.
