Mel Tucker was Michigan State’s football coach, and he was fired in 2023 after a university hearing found he violated the school’s sexual misconduct policy. Reports say the case involved allegations that he made unwanted sexual advances toward anti-rape activist Brenda Tracy and engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior during a phone call.

Quick scoop

  • He coached Michigan State from 2020 to 2023.
  • In 2023, Michigan State dismissed him after sexual misconduct allegations and a formal finding by the school.
  • Later reporting said he also faced a defamation lawsuit from Brenda Tracy after the fallout from the case.

Context

He had previously been one of the highest-paid coaches in college football after signing a large contract extension in 2021. After the allegations became public, his tenure ended abruptly and the situation turned into a major college-football scandal.

If you want, I can also give you the short version of the timeline or explain the case in plain English.