Content warning: This story contains graphic language of a sexual nature.
Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker released a statement through his attorney Monday regarding the sexual harassment investigation the school started over the weekend.
The complaint was made by Brenda Tracy, a sexual assault survivor who frequently works with sports teams on training related to sexual violence.
According to Kenny Jacoby of USA Today, Tracy alleged Tucker masturbated while making lewd comments about her during a phone call on April 28, 2022. The pair had previously established a working relationship, with Tracy speaking to Tucker’s team twice and serving as a captain at the Spartans’ spring game in April 2022.
Tucker’s attorney Jennifer Z. Belveal released the nearly two-page statement on Monday, in which the now former coach denied any wrongdoing in the case.
“Brenda Tracy’s allegations of harassment are completely false,” the statement read. “The proceedings initiated by Tracy are devoid of any semblance of fairness for any matter of this importance, and the University’s ‘hearing’ scheduled for October 5-6 is so flawed that there is no other opportunity for the truth to come out. That is why I share some truth with you now.”
Tucker later explains how he saw their relationship as a “mutual friendship that grew into an intimate, adult relationship.” Within that relationship, the coach claims he and Tracy had “dozens of calls” during fall 2021 through winter 2022.
Tucker admits that the phone call from spring 2022 that Tracy names in her complaint did happen.
“While I am saddened by Ms. Tracy’s disclosure of the sensitive nature of this call, let me be perfectly clear—it was an entirely mutual, private event between two adults living at opposite ends of the country,” Tucker continued in his statement. “She initiated the discussion that night, sent me a provocative picture of the two of us together, suggested what she may look like without clothes and never once during the 36 minutes did she object in any manner, much less hang up the phone.”
Tucker goes on to detail how the hearing scheduled is a “sham” and his reasons why. The full statement can be read below.
Suspended MSU football coach Mel Tucker responds to allegations by Brenda Tracy via his attorney, Jennifer Z. Belveal. pic.twitter.com/eiw0L0CujQ
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) September 11, 2023
Since the allegation, Tucker has been suspended without pay from Michigan State.
Tracy responded to Tucker’s statement succinctly, writing on social media that it continued a pattern of “victim blaming” and contained “lies.” She wrote that she will make herself available for cross examination at the university’s hearing on the matter in October and called for Tucker to do the same.
My response to Coach Tuckers statement:
— Brenda Tracy (@brendatracy24) September 12, 2023
“This is just more of the same DARVO, deflection, victim blaming and lies that I’ve been dealing with now for months.
Coach Tucker has been delaying and trying to stop the investigative process since the beginning. He can’t afford to go… https://t.co/2UnzJLmv7C
