Suspended Michigan Condition mentor Mel Tucker adamantly denied claims that he sexually burdened famous sexual attack consciousness speaker Brenda Tracy in a commentary Monday, and known as an next listening to in regards to the claims “a sham.”

Tucker, in a commentary issued Monday via his lawyer Jennifer Belveal, stated he advanced an “intimate, adult relationship” with Tracy, and that her claims that he burdened her are “completely false.” He stated an next listening to to evaluate whether or not he violated college coverage is “ridiculously flawed and not designed to arrive at the truth.”

Michigan Condition athletic director Alan Haller suspended Tucker with out pay Sunday evening upcoming main points of the claims in opposition to the mentor have been made community in a tale written by means of USA These days. Tracy, who operates a nonprofit corporate that tries to boost consciousness about sexual misconduct, particularly amongst school athletes, informed college investigators that Tucker despatched her presents, requested if she would era him if he wasn’t married and masturbated era at the telephone together with her with out her consent, in line with main points reported by means of USA These days on Sunday.

“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 the opposite ends of the country,” Tucker’s commentary reads. “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.”

Haller stated he and alternative college officers have identified in regards to the claims since utmost December when Tracy filed a proper criticism to the varsity’s Administrative center for Civil Rights. He stated an detached investigator who used to be rented by means of the varsity interviewed each events and submitted a file in past due July, recommending that the varsity stock a listening to to resolve whether or not Tucker violated the college’s sexual misconduct coverage. The listening to is scheduled to start out October 5.

Tucker rented Tracy to talk to the Spartans soccer workforce about sexual attack consciousness in August 2021. She additionally attended the workforce’s 2022 spring sport and used to be named its honorary captain. Tracy, who didn’t reply to demands of remark from ESPN, informed USA These days that she advanced a pleasant however skilled dating with Tucker upcoming her first talking engagement with the workforce. In step with the tale, she he informed investigators that “Tucker’s romantic interest in her was entirely one-sided.”

Tucker stated in his commentary Monday that they advanced a mutually intimate dating, and that Tracy now and then inspired the connection by means of “inviting and accepting gifts from me.”

Tucker stated in his commentary that Tracy didn’t object right through the April 2022 telephone name when he masturbated and that she didn’t shorten off her dating with him or the soccer program in a while. He stated she handiest raised objections to the decision upcoming her a presentation she used to be scheduled to offer to the workforce in the summertime of 2022 used to be abeyance. Tucker contends he by no means canceled Tracy’s talk over with however abeyance it to January.

“She chose to file her complaint instead of proceeding with the training,” his commentary reads.

Tucker took factor with the next listening to, announcing it’s designed for infractions involving scholars and fighting him the anticipation to give proof or build really extensive arguments that might display his innocence. The listening to is being carried out as a part of the college’s dating violence and sexual misconduct coverage, which applies to scholars and staff.

He stated MSU’s general investigation “has not been fair or unbiased,” and theorized that the varsity’s movements might be aspiring by means of the sexual abuse scandal involving Larry Nassar, the sports activities doctor who labored at Michigan Condition and in addition for USA Gymnastics, and used to be convicted of sexually assaulting athletes.

“I can only conclude that there is an ulterior motive designed to terminate my contract based on some other factor, such as a desire to avoid any Nasser[sic] taint, or my race or gender,” Tucker, who’s Unlit, stated within the commentary.

In November 2021, Tucker assuredly to a 10-year, $95 million guarantee with Michigan Condition, which tied the mentor upcoming hobby in him had emerged from a number of chief techniques. Tucker led MSU to an 11-2 document and a Incorrect. 10 AP end that season. He’s 20-14 general as MSU’s mentor.

Haller on Sunday named secondary mentor Harlon Barnett as Michigan Condition’s performing head mentor. Former MSU mentor Mark Dantonio has returned to this system as an colleague mentor and can help Barnett. Michigan Condition hosts Incorrect. 8 Washington on Saturday at Spartan Stadium.