Michigan State University on Monday knowledgeable head football coach Mel Tucker of its intent to terminate his contract as the college weighs sexual harassment allegations towards him.

Athletic Director Alan Haller wrote a letter to a sports activities administration agency that represents Tucker detailing the intent. The letter states that Tucker admitted to habits that violates phrases of his contract.

Under a course of outlined in Tucker’s employment contract, the coach has seven calendar days to reply with the explanation why he shouldn’t be fired, in accordance to a college assertion Monday.

USA Today first reported the allegations of sexual harassment towards Tucker by a lady who mentioned he made unwelcome sexual advances and masturbated on a telephone name together with her with out her consent. The accusations had been referenced within the college’s letter to the coach this week. 

The 51-year-old Tucker, who mentioned he’s estranged from his spouse and has two youngsters, advised USA Today that the allegations towards him are “completely false.” Tucker insisted that an intimate telephone name along with his accuser was consensual and out of doors the scope of each Title IX and college coverage.

The alleged habits reportedly occurred in 2022 with a lady below contract to present a “sexual misconduct prevention educational program” to the Michigan State football staff, in accordance to the letter.

The vendor complained below federal civil rights legislation referred to as Title IX, and the college employed a 3rd occasion to examine the allegations. That course of is being overseen by the establishment’s Office for Civil Rights.

In the intent letter, Haller wrote that Tucker admitted to habits that violates the phrases of his contract, together with a clause on “moral turpitude” that primarily forbids habits that might draw to the establishment “public disrespect, contempt, or ridicule.”

The letter said that Tucker admitted throughout the investigation to commenting on the seller’s physique, flirting with the claimant, and “masturbating and making sexually explicit comments.”

“The above-described undisputed facts provide multiple grounds for termination,” Haller wrote.

A listening to on the matter was scheduled for Oct. 5 and 6. However, within the absence of ample causes not to transfer ahead, termination shall be efficient Sept. 26, Haller mentioned.

In a separate assertion on Monday, Michigan State University mentioned it employed a legislation agency on Sept. 12 to examine “alleged breaches of confidentiality” by college officers and others associated to the Tucker investigation.

The announcement got here a day after the Lansing State Journal reported the establishment was attempting to discover out who leaked the title of the coach’s accuser. 

Tucker is within the third yr of a $95 million, 10-year contract and if he’s fired for trigger, the college wouldn’t have to pay him what’s remaining on his deal.

“This action does not conclude the ongoing Office for Civil Rights case; that rigorous process will continue,” the college mentioned in its assertion on Monday.