Mel Tucker
Tucker with Georgia in 2018 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 4, 1972 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1990–1992 | Wisconsin |
| 1994 | Wisconsin |
| Position(s) | Defensive back |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1997–1998 | Michigan State (GA) |
| 1999 | Miami (OH) (DB) |
| 2000 | LSU (DB) |
| 2001–2003 | Ohio State (DB) |
| 2004 | Ohio State (co-DC) |
| 2005–2007 | Cleveland Browns (DB) |
| 2008 | Cleveland Browns (DC) |
| 2009–2011 | Jacksonville Jaguars (DC) |
| 2011 | Jacksonville Jaguars (interim) |
| 2012 | Jacksonville Jaguars (AHC/DC) |
| 2013–2014 | Chicago Bears (DC) |
| 2015 | Alabama (AHC/DB) |
| 2016–2018 | Georgia (DC/DB) |
| 2019 | Colorado |
| 2020–2023 | Michigan State |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 25–21 (college) 2–3 (NFL) |
| Bowls | 1–0 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
Melvin Gene Tucker II (born January 4, 1972) is an American football coach and former player. He was the head football coach at Michigan State University from 2020 to 2023.
Tucker was the interim head coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL) for the final five games of the 2011 season. He has worked as the defensive backs coach at Ohio State and Alabama and as the defensive coordinator for both the Chicago Bears of the NFL and the University of Georgia.
In November 2021, Mel Tucker became one of the highest-paid coaches in college football history, receiving a guaranteed 10-year, $95 million contract from Michigan State, the third-largest contract ever given to a football coach at a public university. In September 2023, following allegations of sexual harassment, Tucker was fired by Michigan State.