Former Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker has filed a federal lawsuit against the university for wrongful termination nearly a year after being fired amid a sexual harassment scandal. Tucker, who is Black, is seeking unspecified monetary damages after being terminated from his 10-year, $95 million contract. In his lawsuit, Tucker accuses Michigan State of racial discrimination and claims the university violated protocols and manipulated processes to protect their own interests.
The lawsuit also mentions accusations of sexual harassment made by Brenda Tracy, a rape survivor and activist hired by Tucker to educate the team about sexual violence. Tucker has denied the allegations and accused Tracy of extortion.
Tucker’s lawsuit paints him as a scapegoat amid high-profile scandals within the university and constant strife within the Board of Trustees. Following his firing, Tucker has not been able to land another coaching job.
Michigan State spokesperson Emily Gerkin Guerrant declined to comment on the lawsuit. The team finished 4-8 last season under interim coach Harlon Barnett and has since hired Jonathan Smith as the new head coach.
The lawsuit states that Tucker has suffered irreparable harm, including the loss of his coaching position, future employment opportunities, mental and emotional distress, humiliation, and damage to his personal and professional reputation. The case against Michigan State comes after Tucker’s decline to participate in a formal Title IX hearing last October due to an unspecified medical condition.
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