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After guiding Michigan State to a 10-2 regular season, and with a potential New Year’s Six bowl game on the horizon, Mel Tucker has been named the Big Ten Coach of the Year by both the media and coaches.
Coach Tucker has been announced as the B1G Ten Coach of the Year #TuckComin pic.twitter.com/08pBlErvai
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) November 30, 2021
Tucker is the fifth Spartan coach to win the award and it’s the sixth time an MSU coach has received the honor. Mark Dantonio won it twice (2010, 2013), while John L. Smith (2003), Darryl Rogers (1977) and Dennis Stolz (1974) each won it once.
The coaches picked him, and so did the media.
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 30, 2021
Congrats to @MSU_Football's @Coach_mtucker on sweeping @B1Gfootball coach of the year. pic.twitter.com/eqyaI4ULED
Tucker made tremendous strides in just his second year on the Michigan State sideline. After finishing the 2020 campaign with a 2-5 record, he hit the transfer portal hard and brought in a wealth of new faces, including potential Heisman Trophy finalist, running back Kenneth Walker III.
He guided the Spartans to big wins over Miami (FL.), Michigan and Penn State, among others this season. Tucker recently signed a massive contract extension to stay with the program long term. He is also going to play a pivotal role in upgrading the football facilities going forward.