21 Facts About Mel Tucker

Melvin Gene Tucker II was born on January 4,1972 and is an American football coach and former player.

Mel Tucker was the head football coach at Michigan State University from 2020 to 2023.

Mel Tucker 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.

Mel Tucker attended Cleveland Heights High School where he was a football standout.

Mel Tucker graduated in 1995 with a degree in agricultural business management.

Mel Tucker signed a contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League after graduation but fell ill during training camp due to chickenpox and was cut from the team.

Mel Tucker began his coaching career in 1997 as a graduate assistant for Michigan State under head coach Nick Saban.

In 2002, Mel Tucker was the defensive backs coach as Ohio State won a national championship, and in 2004 he was made co-defensive coordinator.

In 2005, Mel Tucker entered the National Football League with the Cleveland Browns.

Mel Tucker coached defensive backs from 2005 to 2007 and was promoted to defensive coordinator in the 2008 season following the firing of Todd Grantham.

In 2009, Mel Tucker was hired by the Jacksonville Jaguars as their defensive coordinator, replacing Gregg Williams.

On November 29,2011, Mel Tucker was named Jacksonville's interim head coach following the firing of Del Rio.

On January 18,2013, Mel Tucker was named defensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears.

On January 20,2015, following another record-setting low defensive season for the Bears in 2014, Mel Tucker was replaced by former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, under new head coach John Fox.

Mel Tucker spent the 2015 season with the Alabama Crimson Tide as assistant head coach and defensive backs coach, during which the team won the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship.

In 2016, Mel Tucker moved to Georgia as the defensive coordinator, where he remained through 2018.

On December 5,2018, Mel Tucker signed an agreement to become the Colorado Buffaloes' head coach starting in 2019.

At the time of signing, Mel Tucker became the 12th-highest paid head coach in the FBS and fourth in the Big Ten.

Michigan State suspended Mel Tucker without pay later that day, with Harlon Barnett taking over as interim head coach.

Mel Tucker was officially fired by Michigan State on September 27,2023.