Michigan State Football: Mel Tucker changed the coaching contract landscape

After signing a massive extension with Michigan State football, it’s becoming clearer by the day that Mel Tucker changed the coaching landscape.

When Mel Tucker’s contract details with Michigan State football were released to the media, everyone was quick to jump on the “how could you pay a coach this much?” train.

Tucker had just turned a 2-5 team around in one year, leading the Spartans to a 10-2 regular season and a likely New Year’s Six bowl berth. That quick turnaround in his second year was good enough to draw some NFL interest as well as place him directly in the middle of LSU and USC rumors. His extension was warranted and Michigan State paid him handsomely.

A 10-year, $95 million contract seemed like a lot at the time, but that’s quickly looking like a modest contract after the recent coaching carousel moves.

It looks like Tucker’s contract has changed the coaching landscape and how much programs are willing to pay in order to get their guy.

LSU is paying 60-year-old Brian Kelly the same 10-year, $95 million contract that Tucker got. Did I mention he’s 60? Lincoln Riley is getting one of the best deals ever, earning over $100 million over the course of his contract and USC is buying his homes in Oklahoma $500,000 over the asking price while also buying him a $6 million house in California.

Schools are going all-in to try and match Tucker’s deal.

And it’s not even close to done yet. Billy Napier’s contract details with Florida haven’t been released yet, Washington will probably pay handsomely for their next head coach, and Notre Dame is undoubtedly going to pay big money for Luke Fickell.

Tucker changed the landscape of coaching contracts.

Mel Tucker is worth every penny

There might be some who say “why don’t you let it play out before you pay him so much?” but that’s just not how coaching contracts go these days. You have to pay to keep a coach and just hope that it works out. You have to take that risk.

From all accounts, it seems like Tucker is worth every penny.

Tucker just won Big Ten Coach of the Year, turned a two-win team into a 10-win team in one year, revamped the roster through recruiting and the portal, and is recruiting at such a high level that is unprecedented at Michigan State. The talent coming in is greater than it’s ever been before and he’s still winning 10 games with a roster that isn’t his.

The future is bright and Tucker is going to prove that he was a bargain. Heck, it’s already happening since he’s no longer the second-highest-paid coach in the country anymore.