Report: Mel Tucker not attending Michigan State hearing due to 'serious medical condition,' per attorney

Amid allegations over sexual misconduct, former Michigan State head football coach Mel Tucker will not appear in person for his Title IX hearing scheduled for Thursday and Friday of this week.

According to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, Tucker’s attorney revealed that he is dealing with medical issues and is not able to attend the hearings.

“Mel Tucker will not attend the hearing with MSU scheduled for today and Friday,” Rittenberg tweeted out on Thursday morning. He added that Tucker’s attorney said the former Spartan coach has a “serious medical condition” that’s keeping him from going.

In further news, Rittenberg also reported that “a new letter has been sent to MSU trustees and president outlining ‘new evidence’ that contradicts Brenda Tracy’s claims against him.”

So, Tucker will not be in attendance for the Title IX hearing this week while his team drafted a new letter that they believe showcases contradictions in his accuser’s claims.

The Athletic’s Chris Vannini provided more context to the claim of a “serious medical condition,” providing the following statement from Tucker’s lawyer:

“We have not provided medical evidence for public consumption, but documentation exists to substantiate the serious medical condition.”

Vannini also confirmed that Tucker and his team sent a new letter to Michigan State’s board and school president claiming there’s new evidence in the case. Vannini says of it:

“Of the ~100 pages of messages, the vast majority are redacted, except for a few comments about money. No context around most of it.”

Mel Tucker plans to file wrongful termination lawsuit

Mel Tucker and his attorneys have taken a major step toward a wrongful termination lawsuit against Michigan State. Tucker’s lawyers told university officials to keep their records, which is an indicator a lawsuit is forthcoming, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Dan Murphy.

Michigan State officially fired Tucker for cause earlier this week after giving him notice of those plans seven days prior. He is at the center of an investigation in light of allegations against him by prominent advocate Brenda Tracy, and a hearing is set for next week.

It’s the next step in the situation involving Tucker, which got started earlier this month when news broke of the allegations against him. The university suspended him without pay before eventually deciding to fire him for cause.

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 spoke out about the university’s plans to fire him last week, reiterating his stance that Brenda Tracy’s claims are “baseless” and the university’s process was a “miscarriage of justice.”

“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.”