Mel Tucker, head football coach at Michigan State University, has been suspended without pay following accusations of sexual harassment made by a rape victim and a sexual violence educator. Athletic director Alan Haller confirmed the sanction, saying Tucker would be sidelined until the ongoing investigation is completed.
MSU secondary coach Harlon Barnett will serve as interim head coach in the meantime. Tucker is accused of making sexual comments regarding speaker Brenda Tracy and engaging in inappropriate behavior during a phone call in April 2022.
According to a Title IX complaint filed in December. Tracy alleges that Tucker masturbated while chatting with her, but Tucker disputes this, saying the phone call involved a personal, consensual action.
Is Mel Tucker married?
Mel Tucker’s wife, JoEllyn, came into his life through a chance blind date. At the time, JoEllyn was a law student at Rutgers University, and the connection was made through a mutual classmate from Tucker’s days at the University of Wisconsin.
Before their first meeting, Tucker had the opportunity to speak with JoEllyn and was immediately captivated by her. According to reports, Tucker was attracted to JoEllyn’s intelligence and beauty. He appreciated her frankness and admired her honesty.
The couple’s connection grew stronger and Tucker eventually proposed to JoEllyn, who happily accepted. From that moment on, their love story begins to unfold. Mel Tucker and JoEllyn have since built a beautiful life together, raising two sons named Joseph and Christian.
What happened between Tracy and Tucker?
Tracy further alleges that Tucker discussed his marital problems with her and expressed romantic interest on several occasions. Following the phone call, Tucker canceled Tracy’s scheduled appearance at the university and made comments that Tracy perceived as a threat to her career if she spoke out.
The independent investigator in the case completed her work in July, and a hearing to determine whether Tucker violated the university’s sexual harassment policy is scheduled for Oct. 5-6. After the hearing, a final decision regarding Tucker’s employment will be made.
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Mel Tucker’s Personal Life
Mel Tucker was born in Cleveland, Ohio on January 4, 1972. He acquired a taste for football as a child and later played as a defensive back at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Tucker began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Michigan State University after his playing career ended.
Tucker’s teaching abilities quickly became evident and he rose through the ranks to become a defensive backs coach for numerous college football programs. His ability to connect with athletes and extract the maximum potential from them has attracted the interest of renowned coaches, paving the way for him to increasingly senior positions.
Mel Tucker and Michigan State University
Tracy and Tucker had worked together since August 2021, when Tracy told members of the school’s football team about her gang rape committed years earlier by four athletes and pleaded with the Spartans to stand up to sexual abuse. According to USA Today, she used her experience to launch an educational speaking training program and visited Michigan State athletes three times in the previous two years.
Tracy was chosen as an honorary captain of the Michigan State football team for a spring 2022 game. Tucker and Tracy had not communicated since August 2022, months after the disputed phone call, when Tracy filed her complaint. Tucker signed a 10-year, $95 million contract with Michigan State in November 2021.
Conclusion
As of yet, neither Tucker, his agency, Tracy, nor staff at Michigan State University have responded to calls for comment. The investigation and subsequent hearing will shed more light on the accusations and ultimately determine Tucker’s future within the institution.
