Mel Tucker—a 23-year coaching veteran with college and NFL chops—is the Spartan football team’s new coach. He was introduced to the Spartan community Feb. 12.
His resume, which began as an MSU graduate assistant under Nick Saban, includes a head coaching position at the University of Colorado (2019), ?ve seasons as a defensive coach in the Southeastern Conference (2000 and 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 for 11 seasons overall in his coaching career.
The 48-year-old Tucker is nationally recognized as a top recruiter and talent developer. He’s worked with numerous NFL Draft selections, including nine ?rst-rounders, and multiple All-Americans and Pro Bowlers.
In 142 games as a full-time coach in the Football Bowl Series, Tucker’s teams collected a 106-36 record, including 11 postseason bowl games, three conference championships, three national championship games and two national championships. He coached 160 games in the NFL.
He’s the university’s 25th head football coach. Tucker most recently coached the University of Colorado’s team. He took the Spartan helm from Mark Dantonio, who retired as head coach. Tucker and his wife, Jo-Ellyn, a Rutgers University law school alumna, have two sons, Joseph and Christian.
Catch the home season opener Saturday, Sept. 5, against Northwestern University.
Get your tickets now. Call (517) 355-1610, or send an email to tickets@msu.edu
Get to know Coach Tucker by following him on social media: https://www.instagram.com/coach_mtucker/?hl=en