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Who is Mel Tucker's wife? Michigan state football coach fired after sordid accusations emerge

Mel Tucker has been accused of behaving inappropriately with activist Brenda Tracy during a 2022 phone call

LANSING, MICHIGAN: American football coach Mel Tucker, who has been married to Jo-Ellyn Tucker for over 20 years, is reportedly set to be fired without compensation from Michigan State University.

Currently estranged from his wife, the beleaguered coach's firing comes after misconduct allegations were raised against him, involving activist and rape survivor Brenda Tracy, per Daily Mail.

The university reportedly announced the decision on Monday, September 18.

"The notice provides Tucker with seven calendar days to respond and present reasons to me and the interim president as to why he should not be terminated for cause," athletic director Alan Haller said in a statement, the publication reported.

The statement also mentioned that the school will fire Tucker on September 26, if he fails to provide "sufficient reasons to dispute" multiple contract violations.

Tucker, who is one of the highest-paid coaches in college football history, is currently in the third year of his $95 million, 10-year contract.

If he is fired for cause, Michigan State University would not have to pay him the amount remaining on his deal, the outlet noted.

Mel Tucker's wife Jo-Ellyn Tucker met him as law student

Tucker has reportedly been married to Jo-Ellyn since 2000. The latter was born and brought up in Michigan and attended Rutgers University to study law after completing high school. 

She holds a BA in English from the University of Illinois and a Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School. She is a former praticing attorney and a proud community leader.

Jo-Ellyn serves as a board member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region. She is also the founding partner and board president of the Investment Club and a board member of the Capital Area Humane Society.

It was during her time at Rutgers that Jo-Ellyn connected with Tucker through a classmate of the football coach from his days at Wisconsin, as per Detroit Free Press.

Tucker reportedly spoke to JoEllyn before going on a date "and was smitten" by her, the former once told The Florida Times-Union, the outlet noted. 

"She was in law school, she was nice looking. I got to know her before we met. She never told me what I wanted to hear. I respect a person who tells you straight," Tucker purportedly said at the time.

Shortly after, Tucker allegedly proposed to Jo-Ellyn on a blind date and the duo tied the knot around 2000. 

Jo-Ellyn and Tucker also welcomed two sons together, Joseph and Christian, who were born two years apart.

Tucker's wife is yet to publicly respond to the allegations made against him.

What are the allegations against Mel Tucker?

Earlier this month, USA Today published a story highlighting Tracy's allegations against Tucker. The former claimed that the coach sexually harrassed her over a phone call on April 28, 2022.

Tracy also mentioned that she filed a complaint with the university’s Title IX office in December 2022 and that the investigation was completed in July. 

"The idea that someone could know me and say they understand my trauma but then re-inflict that trauma on me is so disgusting to me, it’s hard for me to even wrap my mind around it," she told the outlet.

"It’s like he sought me out just to betray me," Tracy added. Tucker denied the allegations and claimed that he had a consensual "phone sex" with Tracy.

"Ms Tracy’s distortion of our mutually consensual and intimate relationship into allegations of sexual exploitation has really affected me," Tucker reprotedly wrote in a March 22 letter to the investigator.

"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," he mentioned.

A hearing related to the case is scheduled for the week of October 5.

The session will determine if Tucker violated the school´s sexual harassment and exploitation policy. The ruling could reportedly take up to 60 days.

A few hours after USA Today published the reported, the Michigan State University suspended Tucker without pay, pending a resolution of the Title IX case.

"This step, suspending Mel Tucker without pay, is… necessary and appropriate for today's circumstances," Interim President Teresa Woodruff said in a press conference at the time.

"These actions are not taken lightly," she added.