Former Michigan State football coach, Mel Tucker, is suing the university for wrongful termination. Tucker alleges that the university breached his contract and owes him more than $2 million in unpaid compensation. The lawsuit was filed in the Ingham County Circuit Court and claims that Tucker was fired without just cause.
Tucker was hired by Michigan State in early 2020 and signed a six-year, $5.5 million per year contract. However, just over a year later, Tucker left the university to become the head coach at the University of Texas. In response to Tucker’s departure, Michigan State cited a breach of contract and refused to pay him the remaining compensation outlined in his contract.
In the lawsuit, Tucker argues that his departure was not a breach of contract and that the university’s termination was wrongful. He claims that he was not provided with a fair opportunity to rectify any alleged breaches of contract and was not given a chance to defend himself before being fired. Tucker also alleges that Michigan State has failed to pay him the remaining portion of his contract, which includes guaranteed compensation, performance bonuses, and other benefits.
Michigan State has yet to respond to the lawsuit, but Tucker is seeking at least $2.5 million in damages. Tucker’s attorney has stated that they are confident in their case and plan to vigorously pursue legal action to ensure that Tucker receives the compensation he is owed. This lawsuit highlights the complex nature of coach contracts in college sports and the potential consequences for universities that terminate coaches before their contracts expire.
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