Mel Tucker - Staff Directory - Michigan State University Athletics

Staff Directory

Mel Tucker

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Head Coach
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Mel Tucker, a 27-year coaching veteran with championship experience, was named Michigan State University’s 25th head football coach on Feb. 12, 2020. He is entering his fourth season as head coach of the Spartans in 2023.

In just his second year in East Lansing in 2021, Tucker led MSU to an 11-2 record, a Top 10 ranking, and a win in the New Year’s Six with a victory over ACC Champion and No. 12 Pittsburgh in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Tucker was named a finalist for National Coach of the Year by multiple organizations, including the American Football Coaches Association, the Paul Bear Bryant Awards, the Football Writers Association of America and the Maxwell Football Club. He was also named the Big Ten Coach of the Year by both the coaches and media and the AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year. In June 2022, Tucker was named the College Coach of the Year by the National Coalition of Minority Football Coaches.

Going from two wins in 2020 to 11 wins in 2021, MSU completed the biggest turnaround in school history (previous: seven-game improvement from 2016 to 2017) and finished the season ranked No. 8 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 9 in The Associated Press Poll. Tucker became the earliest Spartan coach to win double-figure games in a season (previous: Mark Dantonio with 11 wins in his fourth season at MSU in 2010).

Tucker’s resume, which began as a graduate assistant at Michigan State under Nick Saban, has an impressive track record of success. The journey that led him back to East Lansing included a head coaching position at Colorado (2019), five seasons as a defensive coach in the Southeastern Conference (2000; 2015-18), 10 seasons in the NFL (2005-14), and four seasons at Ohio State (2001-04). He was a defensive coordinator in the NFL for seven seasons and 11 seasons overall in his coaching career.

In 174 games as a full-time coach in the FBS, Tucker’s teams have collected a 124-50 (.713) record, including 11 postseason bowl/playoff games (2000 Peach, 2002 Outback, 2003 Fiesta/BCS National Championship, 2004 Fiesta, 2004 Alamo, 2015 Cotton/CFP Semifinal, 2016 CFP/National Championship, 2016 Liberty, 2018 Rose/CFP Semifinal, 2018 CFP/National Championship, 2021 Peach), three conference championships, three national championship games and two national championships (2002 with Ohio State, 2015 with Alabama). Tucker also coached 160 games in the National Football League (64 with Cleveland, 64 with Jacksonville, 32 with Chicago).

Eight of Tucker’s 23 wins as a head coach have come against AP Top 25 opponents (2022: No. 14 Illinois; 2021: No. 24 Miami, No. 6 Michigan, No. 13 Pittsburgh; 2020: No. 11 Northwestern and No. 13 Michigan; 2019: No. 25 Nebraska and No. 24 Arizona State at Colorado). Tucker is 8-7 overall against AP Top 25 opponents (2-2 at Colorado; 6-5 at MSU).

The 51-year-old Tucker is nationally recognized as a top recruiter and developer of talent, working with numerous NFL Draft selections, including 16 first-rounders, and multiple All-Americans and Pro Bowlers. He has been on staffs with some of the top collegiate coaches in the game, including Saban, Mark Dantonio, Kirby Smart and Jim Tressel. The recruiting momentum under Tucker has landed the Spartans back-to-back Top 25 recruiting classes for 2022 and 2023 for the first time since 2015-16 (247 Sports composite rankings: No. 23 in 2022 and 2023). MSU’s 247 Sports composite team ranking for the Class of 2022 was the highest for the Spartans in six years. In addition, MSU was ranked No. 22 overall in the 247 team rankings for the Class of 2023, which combines transfers and high school signees.

In the classroom, Michigan State has had 107 Academic All-Big Ten selections the past three seasons under Tucker, including a school record back-to-back years (33 in 2020 and 45 in 2021).

The results on the field in Tucker’s second season at MSU in 2021 put the program in the national spotlight all season long, ending with a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback over No. 12 Pitt in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl that gave the Spartans an 11-2 overall record and a Top 10 ranking. He led the Spartans to an 8-0 start and garnered national coach of the week accolades by the Dodd Trophy and The Athletic following Michigan State’s 37-33 victory over No. 6 Michigan on Oct. 30, as he became the first Spartan coach to win his first two games against the Wolverines (27-24 victory at No. 13 Michigan on Oct. 31, 2020). Michigan State was ranked as high as No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings, matching its highest-ever CFP ranking, and was featured in all six CFP rankings during the 2021 season. In addition, the Spartans defeated three AP-ranked opponents (No. 24 Miami, No. 6 Michigan, No. 13 Pittsburgh) and seven bowl-eligible teams.

A total of 19 Spartans earned All-Big Ten honors in 2021, including Big Ten Running Back of the Year Kenneth Walker III, who became the first Spartan in school history to win the Walter Camp National Player of the Year and the Doak Walker Award. The unanimous first-team All-American ranked second in the FBS in rushing with 1,636 yards and was a second-round NFL Draft selection by the Seattle Seahawks. Four Spartans were drafted overall, the most for the program since 2016 (Walker; WR Jalen Nailor, sixth round, Minnesota; TE Connor Heyward, sixth round, Pittsburgh, OT AJ Arcuri, seventh round, LA Rams).

Tucker signed an updated contact on Nov. 24, 2021, that expires on Jan. 15, 2032. His contract includes non-performance related compensation of $9.5 million per year, including a $5.9 million base, $3.2 million in supplemental compensation for media and personal appearances, plus a $400,000 contingent annual bonus. The contract was approved by the MSU Board of Trustees on Dec. 17, 2021.

Before even coaching a game at Michigan State, Tucker helped lead the Spartan program through an offseason in 2020 that was filled with challenges. He demonstrated a forward-thinking approach for adjusting to adverse conditions, especially for a new staff, by adapting to the most up-to-date technology while maintaining connection. In response to societal issues, Tucker launched a website titled “Communicate, Educate, Resources” that contains a multitude of information on a variety of topics, including voting rights and registration, social justice causes and mental health awareness. A member of the Big Ten Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition, he has also invited numerous local and state government representatives, along with other industry leaders, to speak to the team. In the summer of 2022, Tucker was part of an MSU contingent that participated in the Big Life Series: Selma to Montgomery, a Big Ten Conference sponsored trip to Selma and Montgomery, Alabama, for an immersive and educational experience at a key center of the civil rights movement.

On the field in his first season at MSU, Tucker became just the second Spartan head coach, joining his mentor Saban, to beat Michigan in his first game against the Wolverines with a 27-23 win at Michigan Stadium over 13th-ranked U of M on Oct. 31. Tucker also recorded his first Top 10 win as head coach of the Spartans with a 29-20 triumph over eighth ranked and eventual Big Ten West Champion Northwestern on Nov. 28 in Spartan Stadium.

During his first season as a collegiate head coach at Colorado in 2019, Tucker posted wins against Washington, Stanford, Arizona State, Nebraska and Colorado State en route to a 5-7 overall record. The three Pac-12 wins were the second most by the Buffaloes since joining the conference in 2011. Six players earned All-Pac 12 honors, including first-team linebacker Nate Landman, who ranked fourth in the league with 109 tackles. Colorado’s 2020 recruiting class was ranked No. 35 in the nation by 247Sports, the highest for the Buffaloes since 2008. Mel Tucker

Prior to accepting the head coaching role at Colorado, Tucker spent three seasons (2016-18) as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Georgia. The Bulldogs were 32-9 under Tucker’s leadership of the defensive unit and finished in the FBS Top 20 for total defense three consecutive years (No. 16 in 2016; No. 6 in 2017; No. 13 in 2018). One of the staff’s top recruiters, Tucker was ranked as the No. 14 recruiter in the nation by 247Sports based off the class he helped signed before the 2018 season.

UGA had a banner year in 2017, finishing No. 2 in the national polls with a 13-2 record after winning the SEC title over Auburn and the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl against Oklahoma, while playing in the CFP National Championship vs. Alabama. Georgia’s defense finished second in the SEC and sixth nationally in both scoring defense (16.4 ppg) and in total defense (294.9 ypg), while also finishing second in the conference in rushing defense. Roquan Smith, who was named a unanimous All-American, won the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker and was the eighth-pick overall in 2018 NFL Draft. Tucker also mentored cornerback Deandre Baker at Georgia, who won the 2018 Jim Thorpe Award, was named a first-team All-American, and was drafted in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft (No. 30 overall) by the Giants. Both Smith and Baker also earned first-team All-SEC honors. In 2021, cornerback Eric Stokes became the third Bulldog drafted in the first round that Tucker coached at Georgia, going to Green Bay at No. 29 overall. Three Bulldogs that played under Tucker at Georgia in 2018 were selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft (DT Jordan Davis, No. 13, Philadelphia; LB Quay Walker, No. 22, Green Bay; DT Devonte Wyatt, No. 28, Green Bay).

Tucker arrived in Athens after helping Alabama win the 2015 national championship as the assistant head coach/defensive backs coach in his lone season in Tuscaloosa under Saban. Tucker worked with future NFL first-rounders and Pro Bowlers Marlon Humphrey and Minkah Fitzpatrick, along with first-team All-SEC safety and eventual Pro Bowler Eddie Jackson, during the Crimson Tide’s national championship season, which included wins over Florida for the SEC Championship, Michigan State in the CFP Semifinal/Cotton Bowl, and Clemson in the CFP National Championship. It marked the third time Tucker was hired by Saban.

Saban originally hired Tucker for his first job in the coaching profession as a graduate assistant at Michigan State for two seasons (1997-98), where he worked directly under Dantonio, the winningest coach in Spartan history.

Mel Tucker

Tucker landed his first full-time position in 1999 as a defensive backs coach at Miami (Ohio) for Terry Hoeppner, then reunited with Saban at LSU for one season in 2000 before joining Jim Tressel’s staff at Ohio State for four years (2001-04) coaching defensive backs. Under Tressel, Tucker helped the Buckeyes go 14-0 in 2002 while winning the BCS National Championship over Miami (Fla.) in the Fiesta Bowl. Tucker, who was promoted to co-defensive coordinator in his final season at OSU in 2004, helped OSU collect a 40-11 record during his four seasons in Columbus. He also recruited exceptionally well for the Buckeyes, directly helping bring in four future first-round picks (WR Ted Ginn Jr.; WR Anthony Gonzalez; CB Vernon Gholston; DB Malcom Jenkins) and Troy Smith, the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner. During Tucker’s time in Columbus, he coached four first-team All-Americans (S Mike Doss, S Will Allen, S Donte Whitner, LB A.J. Hawk) and four first-round NFL Draft picks on defense (CB Chris Gamble, S Donte Whitner; LB Bobby Carpenter, Hawk), along with multiple first-team All-Big Ten selections.

Following his successful stint at Ohio State, Tucker moved up to the professional ranks to coach his hometown Cleveland Browns as the secondary coach under Romeo Crennel, who had previously won a Super Bowl as a defensive coordinator for the Patriots. Tucker was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2008, and the Browns finished the season ranked second in the NFL in interceptions (23) and 16th in scoring defense (21.9 ppg). For his four seasons overall with Cleveland from 2005-08, the Browns ranked fifth in the league with 73 interceptions, seventh in passing yards allowed and gave up the fourth-fewest completions of 25-plus yards.

Tucker continued his coaching career in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was hired by Jack Del Rio to be the defensive coordinator and secondary coach in 2009, then moved solely into the defensive coordinator role for the next two seasons. He served as the interim head coach for the final five games of the 2011 season, in which the Jaguars ranked sixth in the NFL in total defense (313.0 ypg). Tucker returned to Jacksonville for the 2012 season to be the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator under Mike Mularkey.

Tucker spent his last two seasons in the NFL as the defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears working for Marc Trestman in 2013-14.

A 1995 graduate of the University of Wisconsin with his bachelor’s degree in agricultural business management, Tucker was a member of the first recruiting class for Hall of Fame Coach Barry Alvarez. He lettered three times at both cornerback and safety from 1990-94 and was on the Badgers’ 1993 Big Ten champion team that defeated UCLA in the Rose Bowl, 21-16. As a sophomore, he made a game-saving hit in the end zone with time running out that preserved a 19-16 win at Minnesota. He had 47 tackles and four pass deflections in his career (he missed his entire junior season after breaking a leg in fall camp).

Tucker remains close with several Badger teammates who have gone on to make their marks in football, including Troy Vincent (the NFL executive vice president for football operations), Chris Ballard (Indianapolis Colts general manager) and Darrell Bevell (Miami Dolphins, pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach).

He was born Melvin Tucker II on Jan. 4, 1972, in Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated from Cleveland Heights High School, where he was an all-state performer in football and an all-conference basketball player. He is married to the former JoEllyn Haynesworth, who earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois and her law degree from Rutgers University. The couple has two sons born on the same day (Feb. 18) two years apart, Joseph and Christian.

THE TUCKER FILE
BORN: Jan. 4, 1972
WIFE: JoEllyn
CHILDREN: Joseph and Christian
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in agricultural business management from Wisconsin in 1995.
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Four-year letterwinner as a defensive back at Wisconsin (1990-94).

PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE:
Graduate assistant at Michigan State (1997-98)
Defensive backs at Miami-Ohio (1999)
Defensive backs at LSU (2000)
Defensive backs at Ohio State (2001-03)
Co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs at Ohio State (2004)
Defensive backs with Cleveland Browns (2005-07)
Defensive coordinator with Cleveland Browns (2008)
Defensive coordinator/secondary with Jacksonville Jaguars (2009)
Defensive coordinator with Jacksonville Jaguars (2010-11)
Interim head coach with Jacksonville Jaguars (2011)
Assistant head coach/defensive coordinator with Jacksonville Jaguars (2012)
Defensive coordinator with Chicago Bears (2013-14)
Assistant head coach/defensive backs at Alabama (2015)
Defensive coordinator/secondary at Georgia (2016-18)
Head Coach at Colorado (2019)
Head Coach at Michigan State University (2020-)

HEAD COACHING RECORD: 23-21 (.523) in three seasons at Michigan State (18-14 from 2020-22) and one season at Colorado (5-7 in 2019).

POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE: Coach: 2000 Peach, 2002 Outback, 2003 Fiesta/BCS National Championship, 2004 Fiesta, 2004 Alamo, 2015 Cotton/CFP Semifinal, 2016 CFP/National Championship, 2016 Liberty, 2018 Rose/CFP Semifinal, 2018 CFP/National Championship), 2021 Peach. Player: 1995 Hall of Fame Bowl.

NFL FIRST ROUNDERS: Tucker has coached 12 NFL first-round draft picks along with directly recruiting seven first-rounders. COACHED (12): CB Chris Gamble (Ohio State; No. 28 overall pick by Carolina, 2004 Draft); LB A.J. Hawk (Ohio State; No. 6, Green Bay, 2006); LB Bobby Carpenter (Ohio State; No. 19, Dallas, 2006); CB Donte Whitner (Ohio State; No. 6, Buffalo, 2006); CB Marlon Humphrey (Alabama; No. 16, Baltimore, 2017); S Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama; No. 11, Miami, 2018); LB Roquan Smith (Georgia; No. 8, Chicago, 2018); CB Deandre Baker (Georgia; No. 30, New York Giants, 2019); CB Eric Stokes (Georgia; No. 29, Green Bay, 2021); DT Jordan Davis (Georgia; No. 13, Philadelphia, 2022); LB Quay Walker (Georgia; No. 22, Green Bay, 2022); DT Devonte Wyatt (Georgia, No. 28, Green Bay, 2022). RECRUITED (7): WR Ted Ginn, Jr. (Ohio State; No. 9, Miami, 2007); WR Anthony Gonzalez (Ohio State; No. 32, Indianapolis, 2007); DE Vernon Gholston (Ohio State; No. 6, N.Y. Jets, 2008); CB/S Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio State; No. 14, New Orleans, 2009); CB Eric Stokes (Georgia; No. 29, Green Bay, 2021); DT Jordan Davis (Georgia; No. 13, Philadelphia, 2022); DT Devonte Wyatt (Georgia, No. 28, Green Bay, 2022).

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT MEL TUCKER

Mark Dantonio, winningest coach in Michigan State football history:
"I first came in contact with Mel when he was the graduate assistant here at Michigan State for Coach Saban. He did an outstanding job with the defensive backs. When I went to Ohio State to work for Coach Tressel, he asked me who should coach the secondary, and I immediately thought of Mel. He was a part of the national championship staff and has gone on to coach at the highest levels of football.

"Mel is charismatic, brings good energy, and is a very forward thinker. He's also an outstanding recruiter who connects with his players, but also holds them accountable. He's from the Midwest and has a Spartan background with knowledge of the Big Ten.

"I'm extremely excited for Mel and his family. I'm looking to support him in any way possible. Go Green!"

Nick Saban, Alabama Head Football Coach:
"I've known Mel Tucker since my days coaching at Michigan State when he was a graduate assistant on our staff. Since then, Mel has made a name for himself as one of the best and brightest coaches in our profession. I believe he will do a tremendous job as the head coach of the Spartans. MSU is getting a guy with infinite class and a great personality, who is smart, works hard, and does it with an incredible amount of enthusiasm and positive energy. Mel is a tireless recruiter who knows the game of college football and understands what it will take to be successful in East Lansing."

Barry Alvarez, Former University of Wisconsin Athletic Director:
"Mel was a part of my first recruiting class at Wisconsin and helped us turn the program around. He is an outstanding individual and a really good football person. His background, the people and the programs he has worked for and the success he's been a part of is very impressive. He's been successful at both the NFL and college level. He is truly a quality individual and it is great to have Mel back in the Big Ten Conference."

Kirby Smart, Georgia Head Football Coach:
"I worked with Mel at Alabama and when I became the head coach at Georgia, a top priority was to bring Mel along in the defensive coordinator role. In his three years at UGA, he was a great coach, trusted friend and colleague, and role model for our players. Mel helped us build the foundation of the program we have at Georgia and I'm confident he'll be a great fit for the Spartans."