Report: Michigan State works out deal to make Mel Tucker next head coach
Michigan State has reportedly found its next head coach.
In the early morning hours on Wednesday, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic reported that Michigan State worked out a deal with Colorado head coach Mel Tucker to become the next leader of the Spartans. Feldman said the deal has been agreed to “in principle” between the two parties.
Tucker initially turned down interest in the vacancy in East Lansing, and even fired off a tweet announcing that he was excited to continue building a program at Colorado. Feldman reported that, after Tucker’s initial decision to decline the job, Michigan State returned with an offer that was “impossible to ignore.”
BREAKING: #CU coach Mel Tucker has agreed in principle to become the new head coach at #MichiganState, per sources. After Tucker turned down initial interest, MSU power brokers came back repeatedly to Tucker’s reps w/ an offer that was impossible to ignore https://t.co/qjOH0qKirQ
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 12, 2020
Tucker will come to East Lansing after spending one season as the head coach at Colorado. He finished that season with a 5-7 record.
Tucker started his career on the sidelines at Michigan State, working as a graduate assistant in 1997-98. Along his coaching path, he’s had stops at both the college and NFL levels. Most recently, Tucker has been with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears in the NFL, before returning to the college ranks. He worked at Alabama and Georgia before taking the job in Boulder.
Michigan State had been working on its coaching search for a week, with Mark Dantonio announcing his decision to suddenly step away last Tuesday. It took a little longer than anticipated, but the Spartans were finally able to get their guy.
Tucker also brings B1G ties to East Lansing, playing at Wisconsin as a defensive back from 1990-94.