Michigan State's administration is preparing a historic 10-year, $95 million contract for coach Mel Tucker that will make him the highest-paid Black coach in sports, according to the Detroit Free Press. With the coaching carousel beginning earlier than ever thanks to the Early Signing Period, Tucker's name has come up in connection to top vacant college football jobs around the country. Most notably is LSU, where he was an assistant under Nick Saban in 2000.
The expected extension is a massive show of force for a program hoping to remain on the national stage, however. Tucker's proposed extension would trail only Saban and Clemson's Dabo Swinney in yearly income. Though the extension has not yet been made official, Tucker commented on the reports appearing on The Dramond Green Show.
"I always made it clear that I thought Michigan State was a destination job, not a stepping stone," Tucker said. "I have Big Ten roots. Played at Wisconsin. I'm from Cleveland, Ohio. My parents are 3 hours and 15 minutes away. My wife is from Chicago. I know the Big Ten landscape. This is where I started my career as a graduate assistant for Nick Saban. Michigan State is a special place for me. It was never my intention to come here and just pass through. I believe that we're building something special here and I have tremendous support here and we're on the right track."
In his second season since taking over for Mark Dantonio, Tucker has led the No. 7 Spartans to a 9-1 record, including a win over rival No. 6 Michigan. Tucker is the first coach in Michigan State history to beat Michigan in each of his first two seasons. Among the highlights of Tucker's brief time in East Lansing, transfer running back Kenneth Walker III has become a Heisman candidate while the Spartans ranks in the top 20 in rush defense.
The contract matches the lucrative extension Texas A&M paid Jimbo Fisher in September, which is similarly expected to keep Fisher from being a feasible candidate for LSU. If Tucker signs the contract, his salary would pass other notable Black coaches, including Mike Tomlin for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Doc Rivers of the Boston Celtics. Rivers previously led all Black athletic coaches at $8 million a year.
Michigan State travels to No. 4 Ohio State on Saturday for one of the biggest games in Week 12, as well as one of the most important games in recent Spartans history.
