Mel Tucker violated sexual misconduct policy, says Michigan State - ESPN

A hearing officer at Michigan State determined Wednesday that former football coach Mel Tucker violated the school's sexual misconduct policy during his interactions with Brenda Tracy, a sexual assault prevention speaker hired by the athletic department.

Tracy filed a sexual harassment claim with the university last December, saying that Tucker made unwanted sexual advances after the two met when she was hired to speak to the football team about sexual abuse awareness and prevention. Tracy also said that Tucker masturbated without her consent while the two spoke on the phone in April 2022. She said Tucker backed out of an agreement for her to return to speak to the team in the summer of 2022, which she believes was because of how she reacted to some of his advances.

Tucker, in multiple past statements made public by his attorney, has said he believes he and Tracy were in a consensual, intimate relationship.

A spokesperson for Michigan State confirmed that a hearing officer found that Tucker was responsible for violating policy but said the investigative process was not yet complete because Tucker still has the opportunity to appeal the decision. She said because the case had not reached a full conclusion at this point, the university would not comment.

Neither Tracy nor Tucker responded to requests for comment from ESPN Wednesday evening.

Tracy told USA Today, which first reported the hearing officer's decision, that «my first reaction was tears of relief.»

Michigan State fired Tucker last month. Athletic Director Alan Haller told Tucker in a letter that the coach violated the terms of his contract by bringing «public disrespect, contempt and ridicule upon the university.» Haller wrote that Tucker's interactions with