Mel Tucker, the head football coach of Michigan State University, has been wrapped up in sexual harassment allegations, leading him to get suspended until a trial proves him otherwise innocent.
While the coach has vehemently denied the accusations and claimed that it was a consensual encounter, the victim, Brenda Tracy, has opposite views on the subject.
Before you can dissect what happened and what didn’t, let’s learn more about the two individuals involved and the nature of the allegations.
Who Is Mel Tucker?
Mel Tucker is an American football coach who is currently the head football coach at Michigan State University. He has held the position since 2020. However, he has recently been suspended without pay after allegations regarding sexual harassment came up against him.
According to the MSU website, he is a 27-year coaching veteran with championship experience. In East Lansing 2021, Tucker led MSU to an 11-2 record and a Top 10 ranking.
Tucker has been married for over 20 years to wife, Jo-Ellyn Tucker, who is a former practicing lawyer.
What Did Mel Tucker Do?
Mel Tucker is currently under investigation for sexual harassment and has been suspended without pay till it is over. Brenda Tracy filed A Title IX complaint with the school in December, alleging that Tucker made sexual comments about her and masturbated on a phone call in April 2022 without her consent.
According to Tracy, she sat frozen on the call when Tucker told her that he was touching himself. It never occurred to her to hang up. While Tucker had admitted to the sexual act, he told his attorney that they had mutually consented to phone sex.
Tracy reported that Tucker spoke to her regarding the troubles in his marriage and had a romantic interest in her. After the phone call, Tucker canceled a planned appearance of Tracy at the school. She reported that she perceived several threats by the coach to destroy her career if she ever spoke up.
The complaint was filed eight months after the call, and the coach was “absolutely shocked” by it and suggested that Tracy had falsely accused him of financial gain.
The hearing to determine the sexual harassment case is scheduled for October 5 and 6, after which the final decision on Tucker’s career will be made.
Who Is Brenda Tracy?
Brenda Tracy is a national advocate for ending sexual and interpersonal violence. He is a public speaker who has discussed her experiences as a rape victim in the past. She also works as a consultant, which is how she became a part of the MSU campus in 2021.
Tracy also founded the nonprofit advocacy organization Set The Expectation. She supports victims’ rights and shares her story to uplift women around the country.
Tracy claimed that she was gangr*ped in 1998 by college football players who violated and sodomized her. MSU paid her $10,000 to speak about her story at the football program in August 2023, after which the team signed her Set The Expectation Pledge to commit to ending sexual assault and interpersonal violence.
Which side of the discourse do you believe? Tell us in the comments below.
