LSU just missed out on securing one of their top coaching targets
Mel Tucker is reportedly close to signing a contract extension to stay at Michigan State, which is great news for Spartans fans and bad news for LSU football fans.
One of the top coaching candidates for LSU is off the table.
Michigan State is reportedly close to agreeing to terms on a contract extension with head coach Mel Tucker to keep him in East Lansing for the foreseeable future.
Tucker is enjoying a fine season, his second at Michigan State, and has the Spartans in the top 10 of the College Football Playoff rankings. He’s been rumored to be one of the leading candidates along with Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher to be the successor to Ed Orgeron at LSU.
I’m told Mel Tucker & MSU are close to a new deal. Negotiations are friendly and moving quickly. This isn’t Colorado. MSU is all in on football. Contract offer is huge. Reminder, Dan Gilbert is billionaire alum. He and donor Mat Ishbia all in.
— Colin Cowherd (@ColinCowherd) November 13, 2021
Tucker could be looking at a salary that pays him in the $6.5-8 million range and makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in the Big Ten, behind Ohio State’s Ryan Day, and in the top-10 in college football.
Mel Tucker extension is great for Michigan State, not for LSU
LSU football fans had hoped the Michigan State to LSU pipeline that delivered Nick Saban would strike again, but with Tucker committing to Michigan State, they’ll have to look elsewhere.
LSU athletic director Scott Woodward is already going all-in with Fisher, the coach he hired at Texas A&M, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get his guy in the end.
Fisher has the largest buyout in the history of college football but it doesn’t apply to Fisher leaving voluntarily on his own. The buyout only applies if he’s fired. Fisher can leave for the LSU football job if he wants without any financial penalty.
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