Mel Tucker contract details: Michigan State coach salary reportedly highest ranked in college football

Mel Tucker’s efforts during his sophomore year at Michigan State will not go unnoticed. The Sparta coach took his team 9-1 during the season and is now 7th in the country, according to the latest College Football Playoff rankings.

As a result, Tucker’s name is closely linked to two of college football’s most famous leagues at USC and LSU. But for now, it looks like he will stay in East Lansing for the foreseeable future. According to a report from Detroit Free-Press, Michigan State is renewing his 10-year contract and paying the 49-year-old $95 million over that period.

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That would make him the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten, and among the highest in the nation, behind only Nick Saban of Alabama and Dabo Swinney of Clemson in terms of annual salaries. Here’s everything there is to know about Tucker’s impending contract extension, plus how – and why – it comes together.

Mel Tucker details contract, salary

As the Free Press reported, Tucker’s new contract is expected to run for 10 years and pay him a total of $95 million – $9.5 million annually – taking him to the upper echelons. not only in college coaches but all sports in America.

The money is attributed to two Michigan State alumni – Matt Ishiba and Steve St. Andre – provided – according to many reports. The source of the original Tucker extension was revealed on “Inside the changing room“podcast, hosted by a former Michigan State board member, Brian Mosallam. The Free Press later confirmed the initial report, citing university sources.

“When this is done, it sends a message to the country that Michigan State University means business and we’re here to play with the big boys,” Brian Mosallam said on his podcast. He’s also quick to point out that the deal isn’t closed yet, but if it does, it will “send shockwaves throughout college football.”

Tucker’s predecessor, Mark Dantonio, was previously awarded a contract in 2011 named him “a Spartan for life” and paid him $1.83 million a year. Dantonio was renewed for 5 years after he played for Sparta. He finally retired in 2019 after 114 wins and three Big Ten titles with Michigan State.

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Why did the State of Michigan offer Mel Tucker an extension?

Tucker has become a hot commodity in recent weeks as shares of Sparta continue to rise. Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports and The Athletic – as well as is different — linked Tucker’s name to an impending vacancy at LSU, as Ed Orgeron will finish the season before leaving the show. Tucker trains defensive backs in Baton Rouge, La. In 2000 under former Tigers coach Nick Saban (who incidentally encouraged Michigan State to consider Tucker for the job of coaching Sparta).

Tucker refused rumors tied him to LSU, or that he was interested in the job.

Michigan State also experienced a period of relative stagnation following a five-season run of 11 wins over a six-year span: At the end of Dantonio’s tenure there was a 3-9 season and two 7-6 seasons. in his last four years. . It is possible that the Spartans viewed such a large investment in Tucker and the program as a way not only to prevent other schools from poaching him, but also to catch up with Ohio State at the top of the Big Ten.

Mel Tucker’s record at Michigan State

Michigan State wasn’t Tucker’s first head coach job, but it’s where he’s had most of his success.

Tucker’s first stint as head coach was in the NFL. He served as interim coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars for five games in 2011 after taking over from Jack Del Rio, who was fired after a 3-8 opening game. Tucker went 2-3, and then bounced between the NFL and college football before landing another head coach contract with Colorado in 2019.

He went 5-7 during his lone season in Boulder, Colo. Before getting a call from Michigan State in 2020. Tucker’s first season in East Lansing was an interesting one. The Spartans won only two games, though both were ahead of their ranked competitors: No. 13 Michigan and No. 11 Northwestern. Notably, Tucker is the only coach in program history to beat Michigan in the first two seasons. Both are considered nasty wins.

So far in his two years at Michigan State, Tucker is 11-6.

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Highest Paid College Football Coach

If Tucker signs the dotted line and accepts the reported deal, it will have great historical significance from a salary perspective.

Currently, Tucker is one of 13 Black head coaches in FBS (after the Washington shooting of Jimmy Lake) and one of three in the Big Ten. His new deal will make him the highest-paid Black coach in all of American sports.

Stanford’s David Shaw is currently making the most of any black college football coach, though Tucker’s contract would put him ahead of Shaw, as well as Pittsburgh Steelers pro Mike Tomlin. and Doc Rivers of the Philadelphia 76ers, each making $8 million a year.

Here’s a look at the highest-paid coaches in college football and where Tucker would rank in annual pay if his reported extension is confirmed:

(Data from USA Today)