Coach faces hearing over sexual harassment allegations

Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker is facing a hearing next month over allegations that he sexually harassed activist and rape survivor Brenda Tracy during a phone call last year, according to USA Today.

Michigan State hired an outside Title IX attorney to investigate the complaint and the investigation concluded in July, according to the report published Sunday.

A hearing is scheduled for Oct. 5-6 to determine if Tucker violated the school’s sexual harassment and exploitation policy, USA Today reported.

Tucker is in the third year of a US$95 million, 10-year contract, and if he’s fired for cause, the school won’t have to pay him what’s remaining on his deal.

Michigan State can fire Tucker for cause if he “engages in any conduct which constitutes moral turpitude or which, in the university’s sole judgment, would tend to bring public disrespect, contempt or ridicule upon the university,” according to his contract.

The school may also suspend Tucker, without pay, if he “materially breaches” his contract.

Messages seeking comment were left Sunday by The Associated Press with Tucker, Tracy, Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller and Tucker’s attorney, Jennifer Belveal.

Tracy became friends with Tucker over her advocacy work, but that relationship took a turn in April 2022 when Tucker masturbated during a phone call with her, according to USA Today.

Tucker acknowledged to investigators last spring he masturbated during the phone call with Tracy, but he said they had consensual “phone sex.”

“I am not proud of my judgment and I am having difficulty forgiving myself for getting into this situation, but I did not engage in misconduct by any definition,” Tucker wrote in a March 22 letter to the investigator.

Former Toronto FC coach Bob Bradley, fired in June by the MLS club, has returned to Norwegian club side Stabaek.

The team said the 65-year-old Bradley has signed at least through the end of the year. Bradley originally joined Stabaek in 2014 after being let go as manager of Egypt.

Bradley was fired as TFC’S head coach and sporting director on June 26 with the team languishing in 14th place in the MLS Eastern Conference at 3-7-10. His record with the club was 14-2619.

Boston Red Sox lefthander James Paxton was placed on the 15-day injured list with right knee inflammation Paxton tore the ulnar collateral ligament in a start with Seattle in April 2021 and had surgery a week later.

This season, Paxton went 7-5 with a 4.50 ERA in 19 starts.