Former Michigan State coach Mel Tucker attempted to offer multiple confidential settlements to the woman who accused him of sexual harassment while he was the Spartans’ coach.
Tucker was fired for cause in September of 2023 after allegations that he had sexually harassed anti-rape activist Brenda Tracy became public. At the time of his firing, Tucker’s attorneys said that the coach “did not engage in unprofessional or unethical behavior or ‘moral turpitude’ by any stretch of the imagination.
Documents obtained by USA Today don’t appear to corroborate that claim. According to a settlement offer from March of 2023, Tucker’s now-former attorney told Tracy’s attorney that Tucker was “sincerely remorseful that his conduct offended Ms. Tracy.”
A current attorney for Tucker told the newspaper that “he disagrees that the offers show Tucker admitted to inappropriate conduct.” Tucker, who admitted to masturbating during a phone conversation with Tracy, has claimed that the act was part of consensual phone sex in April of 2022.
Tucker’s first settlement offer to Tracy came in January of 2023, shortly after Tracy filed a complaint with the school’s Title IX office. From USA Today:
He offered to meet face to face and pay her $25,000.
In exchange, Tracy would drop her complaint and continue training the Michigan State football team about sexual violence. She would also tell the university that continuing its investigation would negatively affect her; that the incident was a misunderstanding; and that Tucker is not a threat of any kind to the university.
Tracy said no.”
Since Tucker was fired for cause, Michigan State wasn’t on the hook for the over $75 million that remained on a 10-year, $95 million deal he signed after the 2021 season. After the two settlement offers were rejected, Tucker told an outside investigator for the university that the alleged phone sex was her idea.
Tracy is a rape survivor who has worked with various college athletic departments on sexual assault education programs. She was employed as a vendor with Michigan State at the time their interactions took place. Following Tucker’s firing, Tracy took civil legal action against Tucker, but her cases have largely failed to proceed because of procedural issues.
Michigan State hired Tucker ahead of the 2020 season after he spent one season as Colorado’s head coach. The Spartans went 11-2 in 2021 and finished at No. 9 in the AP Top 25. But Michigan State won just seven of its next 14 games before Tucker was dismissed and was 5-7 in 2022.