Mat Ishbia and UWM sued by Brenda Tracy, ex-MSU coach Mel Tucker’s accuser
Brenda Tracy accused former Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker She is suing United Wholesale Mortgage and its CEO, Mat Ishbia, for sexual harassment.
Case first Crain’s Detroit BusinessIt accuses UWM and Ishbia of interfering with the investigation into Tucker’s alleged conduct.
As part of a USA TODAY investigation, Tracy accused Tucker in 2023 of sexual harassment regarding a December 2021 phone call. According to Tracy, a professional advocate for sexual assault victims, Tucker masturbated on the phone without Tracy’s permission during their conversation, although Tucker maintains the phone sex was consensual.
ON THE FIELD: Michigan State football must give up wins over Mel Tucker-era NCAA violations
tucker was fired Shortly after the USA TODAY story was published. Tracy later sued Tucker for defamation, but the lawsuit against Tucker was Thrown out by Ingham County judge In January. Tucker sued unfair termination against MSU claiming that the remaining salary was owed to him; This case is still ongoing.
This new lawsuit adds to the list of legal complaints related to the Tucker saga and adds a new complaint against Ishbia and UWM.
Tracy accuses Ishbia of interference
Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker (right) gives an autographed football to fans during the spring game at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, April 16, 2022. At left is honorary captain Brenda Tracy, a sexual violence prevention educator.
Tracy accuses Ishbia and UWM administrators of using “donor-related outreach and concerted consulting” [to insert] They got involved in an issue that doesn’t concern them at all.” The lawsuit makes nine separate allegations, including invasion of privacy and violation of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, and accuses Ishbia of pursuing the investigation to help protect the Michigan State brand.
Ishbia, UWM’s CEO since 2013, was on Michigan State’s 2000 national championship team, graduated from Michigan State in 2002 and has been a longtime donor to MSU’s athletic program. It is also the majority owner of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. Bought in a $4 billion deal In 2022.
The lawsuit alleges that UWM’s former general counsel, David Zacks, received information about the investigation into Tucker via email from Tucker’s attorneys.
“Ishbia and UWM had a direct corporate interest in the communications sent to or through Zacks because the emails and related electronic records were owned by UWM and were created, received, maintained or routed through UWM systems while Zacks was serving as UWM’s General Counsel,” the lawsuit states. Tracy accuses Ishbia of using the information Zacks received to “influence the process from outside.”
Zacks died on May 10, 2024, at the age of 67.
Tracy is seeking a jury trial and damages exceeding $25,000. In a statement to Crain’s, UWM said the lawsuit was “completely fabricated and unfounded.”
Mat Ishbia cases
Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia discusses the firing of coach Mike Budenholzer and the future of the club at PHX Arena in Phoenix on April 17, 2025.
This isn’t the only major lawsuit Ishbia is currently facing.
Two Suns minority owners He filed a lawsuit against Ishbia in August 2025 He accuses Ishbia of using the Suns as a “personal piggy bank” due to financial mismanagement. Ishbia, along with the two owners and Ishbia, denied the accusations agree to settle the case in private mediation.
Ishbia on April 1 He was also called to testify In a UWM lawsuit against Atlantic Trust Mortgage that UWM lawyers want to block. Judge Terrence Berg threatened UWM with contempt of court if Ishbia did not testify in the case.
This story is and will be updated.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com..
This article was first published in the Detroit Free Press: Mat Ishbia sued by Brenda Tracy, accuser of former MSU coach Mel Tucker
