Michigan State AD Alan Haller releases strong statement on official firing of Mel Tucker

Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller released a statement upon Mel Tucker’s firing from the Spartans’ football program.

Tucker was fired after going on unpaid suspension amid sexual harassment allegations stemming over the last year. The accuser, Brenda Tracy, is an advocate for sexual harassment and violence prevention and is a rape survivor.

Haller’s statement was in response to Tucker’s 25-page response amid the news of his planned firing last week.

Here’s the termination letter Michigan State sent coach Mel Tucker today. pic.twitter.com/HlccsBTh9N

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) September 27, 2023

“Simply put, Mr. Tucker’s response does not provide any information that refutes or undermines the multiple grounds for termination for cause set forth in the notice,” Haller said, via SpartanMag. “Instead, his 25-page response, which includes a 12-page letter from his attorney and a 13-page ‘expert report,’ provides a litany of excuses for his inappropriate behavior while expressly admitting to the problematic conduct outlined in the notice.”

Tracy alleged in a Title IX complaint — which is being handled by lawyers hired by the university — that Tucker repeatedly made sexual comments and masturbated during a phone call on April 28, 2022. A report that resulted from that investigation was delivered to the university in July.

Tucker signed a historic contract extension signed in 2021, when he signed a 10-year, $95 million extension.

Since the 11-2 season led by Tucker in 2021, Michigan State struggled in 2022 with a 5-7 record and missed the postseason and Tucker was considered being under pressure this fall.

Previously, Tucker called the school’s termination decision a “miscarriage of justice.”

Tucker provided a lengthy statement about the university’s plans, which were announced Monday. He reiterated his stance that the sexual harassment claims made by Brenda Tracy are “baseless.”

“I am disappointed but not surprised to learn that MSU intends to terminate my contract over Ms. Tracy’s improper public disclosure of the entire 1200-page investigation file regarding her baseless complaint against me,” the statement read, in part.

“Let’s be clear. I don’t believe MSU plans to fire me because I admitted to an entirely consensual, private relationship with another adult who gave one presentation at MSU, at my behest, over two years ago. A cursory reading of the facts and timeline should cause any fair-minded person to conclude that other motives are at play.”