MSU suspends Tucker amidst harassment case

• Dan Murphy, ESPN Staff WriterSep 10, 2023, 04:17 PM ET Close Covers the Huge 10

• Joined ESPN.com in 2014
• Graduate of the University of Notre Dame

Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker is suspended without pay while the university completes an investigation into claims that he sexually bugged a prominent sexual assault awareness speaker after she was hired to talk to the Spartan team.Athletic director Alan Haller announced Tucker’s interim suspension Sunday night, less than 24 hr after news of the claims versus the fourth-year head coach were made public in reports from ESPN and USA Today. Interim university president Teresa Woodruff appeared alongside Haller at a press conference and said she fully supported Haller’s decision.”The university’s goal has been and stays concentrated on conducting a fair, thorough and impartial investigation and enabling the procedures to play out, “Haller said.Brenda Tracy, who runs a non-profit company that tries to raise awareness about sexual misconduct specifically amongst college athletes, informed university private investigators that Tucker sent her gifts, asked if she would date him if he wasn’t wed and masturbated while on the phone with her without her consent, according to information reported by U.S.A. Today Sunday. Tucker informed investigators he did take part in the habits, but that it was consensual.Editor’s Picks Haller stated long time Michigan State assistant Harlon Barnett will function as interim head coach in Tucker’s lack. Former Simple head coach Mark Dantonio is likewise going back to the group to function as an associate head coach starting today. Dantonio retired in February 2020.

Haller said he was initially made aware of the problems in late December, shortly after Tracy submitted the grievance. Michigan State hired a third-party detective to decide if Tucker had actually broken the school’s sexual misconduct policy. The private investigator finished her report on July 25, Haller stated, and recommended that the school hold a hearing to decide if Tucker violated any policy. The hearing is arranged for the week of October 5.

Any official choice on Tucker’s task status, and the more than $77 million that stays on his contract, isn’t expected to be decided till the hearing concludes.The university

had some interim measures in location during its months-long investigation– consisting of a no-contact order for Tucker and increased oversight of the program and the head coach, Haller said Sunday. He said he decided not to suspend Tucker in July after the detective had actually finished her report due to the fact that he wished to permit the complete process to come to a conclusion. He stated they decided to increase those interim procedures to consist of a suspension Sunday due to new details pertaining to light.When asked after

a quick news conference what brand-new information the school received, he decreased to answer.He and Woodruff

said they were restricted in the info they might share since the case is an ongoing investigation.” This morning’s news may sound

like the MSU of old. It was not, “Woodruff stated.” An independent, objective examination is and continues to be investigated.”Barnett is expected to speak with the media later on today. Haller stated the school hasn’t yet finalized Dantonio’s function, but anticipates he’ll be using a headset and actively coaching from the sideline or journalism box during Tucker’s absence.