Mel Tucker made it really clear that he is in this for himself and nobody else.
Months after Michigan State agreed with football coach Mel Tucker on a 10-year contract set to pay him $9.5 million annually, athletics director Alan Haller awarded Tucker the entirety of a $100,000 bonus. It was supposed to be intended for the Spartans’ coaching staff .
This bonus was paid to Tucker in addition to the $250,000 bonus that the head coach was awarded after leading the Spartans to a victory in last year’s Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Instead of spreading that bonus around, Tucker decided to keep it all.
The clause that provides for the $100,000 staff bonus was carried over into that pact from the initial contract he signed when he was hired away from Colorado in 2019.
“The University shall pay a yearly bonus of $100,000 to the Program, to be allocated between the Coach, the assistant football coaches, and the Program administrative staff, at the discretion of the Athletics Director with input from the Coach,” the contract clause reads, per USA Today. “The University shall such (sic) bonus no later than June 30th following the end of each football season, provided, however, that the University shall not be obligated to pay such bonus to the Program if the Coach had provided notice of termination to the University.”
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Tucker and Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller declined comment to USA Today.
The Spartans are 5–6 overall and 3–5 in Big Ten play this season, which comes one year after going 11–2 overall and 7–2 in conference with a win over rival Michigan.
Tucker is under contract with Michigan State through the 2031 season.
