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Michigan State signs Tucker to 10-year, $95M extension

Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Mel Tucker has agreed to a 10-year contract extension worth $95 million to remain Michigan State's head coach, the school announced Wednesday.

The extension includes non-performance-related compensation of $9.5 million per year, including a $5.9-million base, $3.2 million for media and personal appearances, and a $400,000 contingent annual bonus. The contract runs until Jan. 15, 2032.

Tucker, 49, confirmed he'll be staying with the Spartans "for years to come." His deal will make him the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten and the second-highest paid in the country behind Alabama's Nick Saban, Matt Charboneau of The Detroit News notes.

Tucker went 2-5 last year during his first season with Michigan State after leaving Colorado. However, the Spartans have bounced back during the 2021 campaign and are currently 9-2 with one game remaining in the regular season.

Tucker has turned around Michigan State's fortunes thanks to the addition of transfers such as Heisman Trophy candidate Kenneth Walker. The Spartans coach is on the watch lists for the National Coach of Year honor and the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award.

"The decision to extend Mel Tucker's contract is not based on one year of results, but rather it's an investment in a promising future for Spartan football," said MSU vice president and director of athletics Alan Haller in a statement.

The lucrative extension arrives less than a week after Michigan State dropped to No. 12 in the College Football Playoff Rankings following a 56-7 loss to Ohio State.

Tucker has worked as an assistant on two national championship teams in Ohio State (2003) and Alabama (2015). He has a decade of NFL experience, briefly serving as the Jacksonville Jaguars' interim coach in 2011.

The Spartans will close out conference play against Penn State in their regular-season finale Saturday.

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