Melvin Gene Tucker II ’90 - Heights Schools Foundation

“You have people that have all talent and no hustle, but that’s not good enough. In order to be successful you need hustle and talent.” ~ Mel Tucker Sr.

In February 2020, Mel Tucker, a former CHHS football standout and University of Wisconsin-Madison defensive back star for the Wisconsin Badgers, returned to Michigan State as Head Football Coach, twenty-two years after beginning his coaching career at the University as a graduate assistant under famed college and NFL coach Nick Saban. Mel, who got engaged to his wife, JoEllyn, while at MSU (for first time), said upon his return to the Big Ten team, “Returning home to Michigan State is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me and my family but it created the toughest decision of my life—to leave Colorado…” Returning to MSU completes a full-circle career for Mel after making significant impact in the sport through key coaching positions at other US colleges and national football teams: Ohio State University (in 2002, under Head Coach Jim Tressel, Mel was the defensive backs coach when the Buckeyes won the state championship); Cleveland Browns (under Tucker, the team consistently ranked fifth in the league); Jacksonville Jaguars (under Tucker, the team quickly became the fourth highest rated NFL team); Chicago Bears; University of Alabama (during Mel’s tenure, the Crimson Tides won the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship); University of Georgia (Bulldogs) and; most recently, at the University of Colorado (Buffaloes).