The NCAA is looking into suspected recruitment breaches at Michigan State, university president Kevin Guskiewsicz told The Detroit News. The alleged infractions took place under former coach Mel Tucker.
The gravity of the claims is unknown, and Guskiewicz declined to clarify the seriousness of the offenses. Tucker left the institution in 2023 following a Title IX inquiry and a sexual harassment lawsuit brought against him by rape survivor and activist Brenda Tracy.
Guskiewicz told The Detroit News that he will meet with the NCAA next week to discuss the problem, and that MSU is seeking to “make the case” for a whole new coaching staff now that Jonathan Smith is entering his second season as head coach. An NCAA spokeswoman informed the magazine that they could not comment on any existing, pending, or hypothetical investigations.
Michigan State’s assistant athletics director, Matt Larson, stated that the institution “cooperated” with the NCAA’s probe. He also confirmed that the institution will continue to do so.
“Michigan State athletics has cooperated with the NCAA to review a potential matter concerning the football program under the former staff,” Larson told The Detroit News, and will continue to do so throughout the process. NCAA rules do not allow the institution to release any further information at this time.”
Tucker was in his fourth season as head coach at East Lansing, having replaced Mark Dantonio. He had a 20-14 overall record, including a 12-13 mark in Big Ten play, and his finest season came in 2021, when MSU finished 11-2 overall.
After Harlon Barnett completed the 2023 season as Michigan State’s interim head coach, the program hired Smith from Oregon State as its next full-time head coach. The Spartans had an up-and-down season in 2024, ending 5-7 overall and 3-6 in league play under Smith.
In the meantime, Tracy’s case against Tucker is still proceeding. However, according to MSU’s student publication The State News, court authorities were unable to find him in order to serve him with the lawsuit. According to The State News, Tucker’s attorney sought to contact him through certified letters.
They were delivered to the East Lansing house he appears to still own, as well as nine previously known locations, but were all returned as undeliverable. They also did not have a forwarding address, according to The State News.
Tucker was found to have violated Michigan State University’s sexual harassment policy, according to USA Today. Tucker was accused of sexually harassing Tracy, and the university sacked him in September 2023 after already declaring his suspension.
