Current:Home > MyMichigan State football coach Tucker says `other motives’ behind his firing for alleged misconduct-LoTradeCoin
Michigan State football coach Tucker says `other motives’ behind his firing for alleged misconduct
View Date:2024-12-24 00:40:12
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Suspended Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker said Tuesday that he is “disappointed — but not surprised” that the school intends to fire him for misconduct involving activist and rape survivor Brenda Tracy and suggested that “other motives are at play” in the school’s decision.
The university informed Tucker on Monday that he will be fired without compensation for misconduct involving Tracy, who said Tucker sexually harassed her during a phone call in April 2022. She later filed a complaint with the school’s Title IX office, which completed its investigation in July.
Tucker, 51, has said the allegations against him are “completely false.”
He said in a statement Tuesday that he is “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.”
Tracy is known for her work with college teams educating athletes about sexual violence. Michigan State paid her $10,000 to share her story with the football team. Tracy became friends with Tucker over her advocacy work, but that relationship took a turn in April 2022 when Tucker masturbated during a phone call with her, USA Today reported.
In his statement Tuesday, Tucker said he doesn’t think MSU is trying to fire him over his dealings with Tracy.
“A cursory reading of the facts and timeline should cause any fair-minded person to conclude that other motives are at play,” he said.
In part, Tucker said MSU “knew about the information on which it supposedly relies to end my contract since at least March 2023.”
He also said that only after “Ms. Tracy and potentially others leaked the confidential investigation report to the press, did MSU suddenly decide this same information warrants termination.”
“MSU is punishing me for Ms. Tracy’s leak, which violated MSU’s rules regarding confidentiality of the investigation,” Tucker wrote.
Tucker is in the third year of a $95 million, 10-year contract. If he is fired for cause, the school would not have to pay him what remains on the deal.
He acknowledged to investigators last spring that he masturbated during the phone call with Tracy, but he insisted it was consensual “phone sex” and that the call was outside the scope of both Title IX and school policy.
Michigan State, however, said the actions Tucker acknowledged were unprofessional and unethical.
The school has said it is looking into the source of a leak that led to Tracy’s identity being revealed as part of an investigation into her allegations against Tucker.
Tracy’s attorney, Karen Truszkowski, said this month that her client’s name was disclosed by an outside party and that the disclosure triggered their cooperation with a USA Today report that exposed explicit details.
Truszkowski didn’t immediately respond to a message left Tuesday seeking comment about Tucker’s latest statement.
A hearing is scheduled for the week of Oct. 5 to determine if Tucker violated the school’s sexual harassment and exploitation policy. A ruling could take up to 60 days.
Tracy has not replied to multiple messages seeking additional comment. But she wrote on social media last week that, “Coach Tucker has been delaying and trying to stop the investigative process since the beginning. He can’t afford to go to a hearing that determines credibility of the participating parties.”
Tucker said Tuesday that the “investigation is designed to determine if I violated policy. I did not. But regardless, basic fairness requires that process play out before any sanction(s) are determined.”
veryGood! (423)
Related
- Martin Scorsese on the saints, faith in filmmaking and what his next movie might be
- What’s next for Iran’s government after death of its president in helicopter crash?
- Emmitt Smith ripped Florida for eliminating all DEI roles. Here's why the NFL legend spoke out.
- At least 27 killed in central Gaza airstrike as U.S. envoy visits the region
- Driver dies after crashing on hurricane-damaged highway in North Carolina
- Kandi Burruss Breaks Silence on Real Housewives of Atlanta's Major Cast Shakeup
- University of California academic workers strike to stand up for pro-Palestinian protesters
- Investigators return to Long Island home of Gilgo Beach serial killing suspect
- Trump’s economic agenda for his second term is clouding the outlook for mortgage rates
- Top U.S. drug agency a notable holdout in Biden’s push to loosen federal marijuana restrictions
Ranking
- Stop What You're Doing—Moo Deng Just Dropped Her First Single
- Off-duty police officer injured in shooting in Washington, DC
- Dog food sold by Walmart is recalled because it may contain metal pieces
- Judge cites error, will reopen sentencing hearing for man who attacked Paul Pelosi
- Jax Taylor Breaks Silence on Brittany Cartwright Dating His Friend Amid Their Divorce
- Judge cites error, will reopen sentencing hearing for man who attacked Paul Pelosi
- Over $450K recovered for workers of California mushroom farms that were sites of fatal shootings
- 3 killed, 3 others wounded following 'chaotic' shooting in Ohio; suspect at large
Recommendation
-
Powell says Fed will likely cut rates cautiously given persistent inflation pressures
-
There was a fatal shooting at this year’s ‘Jeep Week’ event on Texas Gulf Coast. Here’s what to know
-
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. throws punch at Kyle Busch after incident in NASCAR All-Star Race
-
Ricky Stenhouse could face suspension after throwing punch at Kyle Busch after All-Star Race
-
2 more escaped monkeys recaptured and enjoying peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in South Carolina
-
EPA warns of increasing cyberattacks on water systems, urges utilities to take immediate steps
-
Scottie Scheffler’s Louisville court date postponed after arrest during PGA Championship
-
When is the U.S. Open? Everything you need to know about golf's third major of the season