Report: Officials unable to locate Mel Tucker amid ongoing lawsuit

Officials have been unable to locate former Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker amid an ongoing lawsuit against him, MSU’s student newspaper The State News reported. Tucker’s accuser asked the court to help serve him with the suit, which is essentially being held up for the time being.

Brenda Tracy filed the lawsuit, accusing Tucker of defamation by saying they had a consensual relationship during his time at Michigan State and he breached contract by interfering with Tracy’s business. The allegations against Tucker ultimately led to his departure in 2023.

In the filing, according to The State News, Tucker’s attorney attempted to reach him with certified letters. They were sent to the East Lansing home he appears to still own, as well as nine previously known addresses, and they were all returned undeliverable. They also did not have a forwarding address, per The State News.

In addition, Tracy hired a process server to try and find Tucker to serve him the lawsuit in-person, which was also to no avail, The State News reported. An affidavit stated the server went to the home Tucker apparently owns in East Lansing, but found he doesn’t live there anymore.

Michigan State’s investigation into Tucker found he violated the university’s sexual harassment policy, USA Today reported at the time. Tucker was accused of sexually harassing Tracy and the university fired him in September 2023 after previously announcing a suspension.

The university issued a 73-page report at the time in which a hearing officer from the university found Tucker exploited and sexually harassed Tracy during an April 2022 phone call. During the call, which took place eight months after Tucker brought Tracy in as a guest speaker, he allegedly made sexual comments and masturbated without her consent. In addition, the report found Tucker made “unwanted sexual advances” toward Tracy months before the call, according to USA Today.

“In sum, considering all available evidence, the Resolution Officer finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that there is sufficient evidence to conclude that Respondent subjected Claimant to unwelcome conduct based on sex when he FaceTime video called Claimant without a shirt on; when he attempted to meet up with Claimant alone following the Spring Game; and when he non-consensually masturbated and used graphic, sexual language on a phone call with Claimant,” the report said, via USA Today.

Mel Tucker also filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Michigan State. He alleged he was wrongfully terminated and defamed by Michigan State administrators amid the investigation that led to his eventual firing.