News Summary
Alan Haller has been relieved of his duties as Michigan State University’s athletic director after a 3½-year tenure. MSU will start searching for a new athletic director, with Jen Smith and Tom Izzo serving as co-interim directors. Haller led the athletic program during a successful period, achieving multiple Big Ten titles, but faced controversies, including the dismissal of football coach Mel Tucker. Haller expressed pride in his achievements and gratitude towards the Spartan community.
Lansing – Alan Haller has been relieved of his duties as Michigan State University’s athletic director following a 3½-year tenure. The university confirmed that Haller’s last day in the position will be on May 11, 2024. Haller, a 54-year-old Lansing native and former Spartan football player, was appointed as the 20th athletic director for MSU on September 1, 2021, taking over from Bill Beekman.
MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz expressed gratitude for Haller’s leadership, acknowledging the successes achieved under his direction, including multiple Big Ten titles in various sports. The university is set to begin a search for a new athletic director in the coming weeks.
In the interim, Jen Smith, MSU’s deputy athletic director, along with men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo, will serve as co-interim athletic directors. Haller’s current five-year contract, which is set to expire on September 1, 2026, includes ongoing negotiations regarding his buyout. At the time of his departure, Haller’s annual base salary was reported at $899,640.
During Haller’s leadership, MSU’s athletics thrived with teams clinching Big Ten titles in men’s basketball, hockey, women’s cross country, women’s soccer, and women’s gymnastics. However, Haller’s tenure was not without controversy. In 2023, he notably terminated football coach Mel Tucker following a sexual harassment complaint, which subsequently led to a lawsuit against the university by Tucker. Haller later hired Jonathan Smith to replace Tucker after the 2023 football season ended with a disappointing 5-7 record for the Spartans.
In a statement following his dismissal, Haller expressed his pride in the accomplishments during his time as athletic director and his gratitude toward the Spartan community for their support. Haller previously served over a decade with the MSU Police Department before transitioning into the athletic department in 2010, where he held various positions including associate athletic director, senior associate athletic director, and deputy athletic director.
In addition to overseeing the athletic program, Haller was involved in discussions for the planning of a new Olympic sports arena at the university, a significant $150 million project that recently received approval for further development.
Haller’s departure marks the third search for leadership within the MSU athletic department in the past seven years, reflecting ongoing transitions within the university’s sports programs. His time as athletic director coincided with substantial changes in college athletics, particularly regarding the introduction of name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights for student-athletes.
Haller’s journey at Michigan State began as a standout player at J.W. Sexton High School, followed by a collegiate career at MSU, where he earned a criminal justice degree. He also holds a master’s degree in human resources from Central Michigan University. Haller’s extensive background and experience have left a lasting impact on Michigan State’s athletic landscape, marked by both achievements and challenges.
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