NCAA issues notice of violations for Michigan State football from Mel Tucker era
The NCAA has issued a notice of allegations to Michigan State University's football program during Mel Tucker's time as coach.
Matt Larson, MSU's executive senior associate athletic director for communications, confirmed the university is aware of the NCAA's notice but has not yet received a copy. Per NCAA rules, the school has 90 days to respond once it receives the Notice of Allegations, though extensions can be provided.
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According to the NCAA's infractions tracker dashboard, which charts the most serious Level I and II violations, MSU self-reported the matter on Aug. 29, 2023. The nature of the allegations is unclear, and the university has not yet responded to Freedom of Information Act requests from the Free Press.
The NCAA's allegation review board took up the matter Nov. 6, 2024, with all participating parties having a Jan. 21 status conference with Committee on Infractions chair Kay Norton to 'discuss resolution paths for the parties.'
Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker walks off the field after warmups before the game against Central Michigan at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.
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The NCAA's enforcement branch submitted "a new resolution selection request to (the committee) based on parties' participation and additional allegation' on April 14. The final Notice of Allegations is dated April 29, according to the NCAA dashboard.
Previously, Emily Gerkin-Guerrant, the school's vice president and chief of communications, confirmed that MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz acknowledged the probe into Tucker's tenure from 2020-23.
'Michigan State Athletics has cooperated with the NCAA to review a potential matter concerning the football program under the former staff and will continue to do so for the duration of the process,' the school's athletic department said in a statement. 'NCAA rules do not permit the University to provide any additional details at this time.
According to NCAA bylaws, Level I violations are those which 'seriously undermine or threaten the integrity of college sports;' 'provide or are intended to provide a substantial or extensive recruiting, competitive or other advantage;' or 'are a substantial or extensive impermissible benefit.'
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Level II violations can 'provide or are intended to provide more than a minimal but less than a substantial or extensive recruiting, competitive or other advantage;' 'include more than a minimal but less than a substantial or extensive impermissible benefit;' or 'involve conduct that may compromise the integrity of college sports.'
One of the triggers for either a Level I or II infraction can be a 'violation of head coach responsibility rules.'
Tucker was 20-14 overall and 12-13 in Big Ten play during his three-plus seasons as MSU's head coach before being fired two games into the 2023 camapgin.
After the Spartans' winningest coach in school history Mark Dantonio abruptly retired Feb. 4, 2020, then-MSU athletic director Bill Beekman hired Tucker 12 days later. Tucker signed a 10-year, $95 million extension that did not include a buyout clause on Nov. 24, 2021, but he was suspended two games into the 2023 season for alleged sexual improprieties during a spring 2022 phone call with prominent rape survivor and women's rights activist Brenda Tracy. Tracy filed a Title IX violation with the university in December 2022.
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The school fired Tucker with cause for violating the moral turpitude clause in his contract on Sept. 27, 2023. He was due roughly $75 million through 2032 before being fired for violating that clause in his contract. The university, in an October 2023 decision, determined Tucker sexually harassed Tracy, a violation of school policy.
Tucker filed a wrongful termination suit against MSU in July 2024 that remains ongoing.
Guskiewicz, who was named MSU's president two months after Tucker's termination, told the Detroit News editorial board in April that he was aware of the NCAA's inquiry, Gerkin Guerrant said.
The university also dismissed athletic director Alan Haller on May 1 after less than five years. The national search for his replacement remains ongoing.
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Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football: NCAA issues Notice of Allegations
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