Mel Tucker's lawyer offers 'new evidence' to Michigan State

Field Level Media|published: Thu 5th October, 12:27 2023

Michigan State's head coach Mel Tucker looks on during the first quarter in the game against Indiana on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. 221119 Msu Indiana 044a credits: Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

A lawyer for former Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker presented "new evidence" to the school Thursday in the form of a 106-page letter.

Michigan State fired Tucker last month after an investigation into sexual harassment allegations involving a sexual assault awareness speaker, Brenda Tracy.

Attorney Jennifer Z. Belveal sent the letter to the university's interim president, Dr. Teresa Woodruff, and the board of trustees just before an administrative hearing into the misconduct allegations against Tucker began on Thursday morning.

The letter claims that Tucker's accuser "appears to have made a career out of misleading and manipulating people."

It also says Tracy "manipulated a key witness" and "deleted key evidence" when she filed her formal complaint against Tucker in December 2022.

Tracy's attorney did not respond to a request for comment from ESPN.

Tucker, 51, did not attend Thursday's hearing due to an undisclosed medical condition, according to his representatives.

At stake for Tucker is the $79 million he had remaining on his contract when the school fired him on Sept. 27. The university said Tucker violated his contract's moral turpitude clause and brought ridicule upon the school with his actions, including what Tracy said was an unwanted phone sex encounter.

Tucker was hired in February 2020.

The Spartans (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) have lost all three games since elevating defensive backs coach Harlon Barnett to interim head coach.

—Field Level Media