Topzle Topzle

Mel Tucker

Updated: Wikipedia source

Mel Tucker

Melvin Gene Tucker II (born January 4, 1972) is an American football coach and former player. He was the head football coach at Michigan State University from 2020 to 2023. Tucker was the interim head coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL) for the final five games of the 2011 season. He has worked as the defensive backs coach at Ohio State and Alabama and as the defensive coordinator for both the Chicago Bears of the NFL and the University of Georgia. In November 2021, Mel Tucker became one of the highest-paid coaches in college football history, receiving a guaranteed 10-year, $95 million contract from Michigan State, the third-largest contract ever given to a football coach at a public university. In September 2023, following allegations of sexual harassment, Tucker was fired by Michigan State.

Infobox

1994
Wisconsin
1999
Miami (OH) (DB)
2000
LSU (DB)
2004
Ohio State (co-DC)
2008
Cleveland Browns (DC)
2011
Jacksonville Jaguars (interim)
2012
Jacksonville Jaguars (AHC/DC)
2015
Alabama (AHC/DB)
2019
Colorado
Born
(1972-01-04) January 4, 1972 (age 53)Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
1990–1992
Wisconsin
Position
Defensive back
1997–1998
Michigan State (GA)
2001–2003
Ohio State (DB)
2005–2007
Cleveland Browns (DB)
2009–2011
Jacksonville Jaguars (DC)
2013–2014
Chicago Bears (DC)
2016–2018
Georgia (DC/DB)
2020–2023
Michigan State
Overall
18–21 (college)2–3 (NFL)
Bowls
1–0

Tables

· Head coaching record › NFL
Won
Won
Team
Won
Year
Lost
Regular season
Ties
Regular season
Win %
Regular season
Finish
Regular season
Won
Regular season
Lost
Postseason
Win %
Postseason
Result
JAX*
JAX*
Team
JAX*
Year
2011
Regular season
2
Regular season
3
Regular season
0
Regular season
400
Regular season
4th in AFC South
Postseason
–
Postseason
–
Postseason
–
Postseason
–
Team
Year
Regular season
Postseason
Won
Lost
Ties
Win %
Finish
Won
Lost
Win %
Result
JAX*
2011
2
3
0
400
4th in AFC South
–
–
–
–
· Head coaching record › College
Colorado Buffaloes (Pac-12 Conference) (2019)
Colorado Buffaloes (Pac-12 Conference) (2019)
Year
Colorado Buffaloes (Pac-12 Conference) (2019)
2019
2019
Year
2019
Team
Colorado
Overall
5–7
Conference
3–6
Standing
5th (South)
Colorado:
Colorado:
Year
Colorado:
Team
5–7
Overall
3–6
Michigan State Spartans (Big Ten Conference) (2020–2023)
Michigan State Spartans (Big Ten Conference) (2020–2023)
Year
Michigan State Spartans (Big Ten Conference) (2020–2023)
2020
2020
Year
2020
Team
Michigan State
Overall
2–5
Conference
2–5
Standing
7th (East)
2021
2021
Year
2021
Team
Michigan State
Overall
11–2
Conference
7–2
Standing
3rd (East)
Bowl/playoffs
W Peach†
Coaches#
8
AP°
9
2022
2022
Year
2022
Team
Michigan State
Overall
0–7
Conference
0–6
Standing
5th (East)
2023
2023
Year
2023
Team
Michigan State
Overall
0–0
Conference
0–0
Standing
(East)
Michigan State:
Michigan State:
Year
Michigan State:
Team
13–14
Overall
9–13
Total:
Total:
Year
Total:
Team
18–21
mw- .mw- †Indicates CFP / New Years' Six bowl. #Rankings from final Coaches Poll. °Rankings from final AP Poll.
mw- .mw- †Indicates CFP / New Years' Six bowl. #Rankings from final Coaches Poll. °Rankings from final AP Poll.
Year
mw- .mw- †Indicates CFP / New Years' Six bowl. #Rankings from final Coaches Poll. °Rankings from final AP Poll.
Year
Team
Overall
Conference
Standing
Bowl/playoffs
Coaches#
AP°
Colorado Buffaloes (Pac-12 Conference) (2019)
2019
Colorado
5–7
3–6
5th (South)
Colorado:
5–7
3–6
Michigan State Spartans (Big Ten Conference) (2020–2023)
2020
Michigan State
2–5
2–5
7th (East)
2021
Michigan State
11–2
7–2
3rd (East)
W Peach†
8
9
2022
Michigan State
0–7
0–6
5th (East)
2023
Michigan State
0–0
0–0
(East)
Michigan State:
13–14
9–13
Total:
18–21
mw- †Indicates CFP / New Years' Six bowl. from final Coaches Poll. °Rankings from final AP Poll.

References

  1. 5 wins (3 conference wins) were vacated in 2022 and 2 wins were vacated in 2023 as a result of an NCAA settlement over r
  2. Michigan State suspended Tucker after two games.
  3. "Melvin Gene Tucker II '90"
    https://heightsschoolsfoundation.org/personnel/melvin-gene-tucker-ii-90/
  4. Florida Times-Union
    http://www.staugustine.com/stories/012409/sports_0124_039.shtml
  5. profootballtalk.nbcsports.com
    https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/11/29/del-rio-out-in-jacksonville/
  6. mlive
    https://www.mlive.com/sports/2022/08/mel-tucker-kick-started-a-college-football-contract-surge-and-jim-harbaugh-got-left-out.html
  7. "Michigan State University announces plans to fire Mel Tucker amid sexual harassment allegations"
    https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/19/football/mel-tucker-michigan-state-fired/index.html
  8. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/38504840/sources-michigan-state-expected-fire-mel-tucker-wed
  9. CUBuffs.com
    https://cubuffs.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/mel-tucker/3261
  10. www.jaguars.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075630/http://www.jaguars.com/team/coaches/Mel-Tucker/92821092-257a-4138-bdcf-aa28e61f09a7
  11. cleveland
    https://www.cleveland.com/osu/2021/11/how-cleveland-heights-mel-tucker-became-the-coach-who-sold-michigan-state-football-on-its-dramatic-turnaround.html
  12. The Florida Times-Union
    http://jacksonville.com/sports/football/jaguars/2011-11-30/story/low-key-mel-tucker-takes-center-stage-jaguars-coach#ixzz1fCoNup4g
  13. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/12/sports/football/12nfl.html?ref=sports
  14. "Cleveland Browns Promote Mel Tucker to Defensive Coordinator"
    https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=afK45GKru8D0&refer=home
  15. NFL.com
    http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d810879d2&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true
  16. St. Lucie News Tribune
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-lucie-news-tribune-jags-hire-coordin/140767401/
  17. Florida Times-Union
    https://www.jacksonville.com/story/sports/nfl/2011/11/30/low-key-mel-tucker-takes-center-stage-jaguars-coach/15882581007/
  18. The Park City Daily News
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-park-city-daily-news-jacksonville-wi/140766950/
  19. Florida Times-Union
    https://www.jacksonville.com/story/sports/nfl/2011/12/11/jaguars-roll-over-tampa-bay-41-14/15881537007/
  20. The Tampa Tribune
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-fisher-makes-his-choic/140768612/
  21. National Football League
    https://www.nfl.com/news/chicago-bears-name-mel-tucker-defensive-coordinator-0ap1000000128176
  22. Chicago Tribune
    https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/12/30/emotions-aside-bears-must-say-bye-to-mel-tucker/
  23. ESPN Chicago
    https://www.espn.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/10283322/chicago-bears-fire-two-assistant-coaches-retain-defensive-coordinator-mel-tucker
  24. Chicago Bears
    http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-hire-two-assistant-coaches/1392025d-dbb1-4d59-b0c0-c3bd85110964
  25. "Vic Fangio new Bears D-coordinator"
    https://www.espn.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/12198861/vic-fangio-new-chicago-bears-defensive-coordinator
  26. The Birmingham News
    https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2015/08/new_secondary_coach_mel_tucker.html
  27. "Colorado hires Georgia defensive coordinator Mel Tucker"
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25461509/colorado-hires-georgia-defensive-coordinator-mel-tucker
  28. Boulder Daily Camera
    https://cubuffs.com/news/2018/12/5/tucker-named-head-football-coach-at-colorado.aspx
  29. @philsteele042
    https://twitter.com/philsteele042/status/1227630584865984513
  30. FootballScoop
    https://footballscoop.com/news/on-mel-tuckers-contract-and-what-it-took-to-get-that-deal/
  31. USA TODAY
    https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2020/02/13/michigan-state-football-coach-mel-tuckers-contract-details/4752468002/
  32. theonlycolors.com
    https://www.theonlycolors.com/2021/10/31/22755270/michigan-state-spartans-jump-no-5-ap-poll-and-no-6-in-coaches-poll
  33. MLive.com
    https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2021/11/michigan-state-drops-in-national-rankings-after-loss-to-purdue.html
  34. CBSsports.com
    https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-playoff-rankings-ohio-state-moves-into-no-4-spot-behind-oregon-in-new-top-25/
  35. MLive.com
    https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2021/11/michigan-state-moves-up-in-national-rankings.html
  36. SBnation.com
    https://www.theonlycolors.com/2021/11/21/22795457/michigan-state-drops-to-no-12-in-ap-poll-no-13-in-coaches-poll
  37. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/rankings
  38. "Michigan State football enjoys snow day, beats Penn State, 30-27: Game thread recap"
    https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2021/11/27/michigan-state-football-game-score-penn-state-live-updates/8768506002/
  39. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32709778/michigan-state-football-coach-mel-tucker-agrees-new-long-term-contract-sources-say
  40. "Mel Tucker contract: Michigan State takes risk overpaying its coach hoping to raise program's prominence"
    https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/mel-tucker-contract-michigan-state-takes-risk-overpaying-its-coach-hoping-to-raise-programs-prominence/
  41. MLive.com
    https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2021/11/michigan-states-mel-tucker-sweeps-big-ten-coach-of-the-year-awards.html
  42. Bleacher Report
    https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10044153-preseason-college-football-rankings-2022-top-25-coaches-poll-released
  43. "MSU football drops fourth straight game in another double-digit loss vs. Ohio State"
    https://spartanswire.usatoday.com/2022/10/08/msu-football-drops-fourth-straight-game-in-another-double-digit-loss-vs-ohio-state/
  44. Wolverines avenge last season's loss, kick away Spartans to reach 8-0
    https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/2022/10/30/wolverines-use-dominant-second-half-to-kick-away-spartans-move-to-8-0/69602987007/
  45. USA Today
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2023/09/10/michigan-state-football-coach-sexual-harassment-claim/70679703007/
  46. Detroit Free Press
    https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2023/09/10/michigan-state-football-coach-mel-tucker-job-status-sexual-misconduct-allegations-brenda-tracy/70817372007/
  47. Associated Press
    https://apnews.com/article/michigan-state-mel-tucker-fired-246ff49e66a8a1a3f692d6710da791ae#:~:text=Michigan%20State%20informed%20suspended%20football,back%20more%20than%20a%20year.
  48. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/38491036/mel-tucker-responds-formally-msu-attempt-fire-cause
  49. USA TODAY
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2024/08/01/mel-tucker-files-lawsuit-michigan-state/74628530007/
Image
Source: —
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.