Legendary Ohio State Coach Appointed as State’s Lt. Gov.

Former Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressel talks with the media before the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Jan. 12, 2015. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Legendary Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel is now the lieutenant governor of Ohio.

The Ohio state House of Representatives and state Senate voted to confirm Tressel on Wednesday. Tressel, who served as head coach of the Buckeyes from 2001-2010, then as president of both the University of Akron and Youngstown State University, will fulfill the term of former Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, whom Gov. Mike DeWine appointed to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Vice President J.D. Vance.

“Congratulations to Jim Tressel on being confirmed by the Ohio General Assembly to become the next lieutenant governor!” DeWine said in a statement on X Wednesday. “He brings a wealth of knowledge to the position and will serve Ohio with distinction.”

Tressel expressed confidence in his ability to serve in government office.

“When people ask, ‘You haven’t been in politics,’ I say, well, I hope I’ve been in service my whole life,” he told The Associated Press. “I would like to believe that’s what I’ve done, and I know that’s what the folks that serve [in government] do.”

Tressel began his career as a graduate assistant at the University of Akron. From there, he coached quarterbacks and wide receivers at Miami University in Ohio, then quarterbacks at Syracuse, and QBs, RBs, and WRs at Ohio State. He became head coach of the Youngstown State Penguins in 1986. He coached at Youngstown State until 2000, leading the team to four NCAA Division I-AA Championships. He posted a record of 135-57-2.

Tressel took the head coaching job at Ohio State in 2001. He led the Buckeyes to an undefeated record and a National Championship in 2002.

Ohio State continued to find success under Tressel’s tenure, taking home two Fiesta Bowl titles, an Alamo Bowl, a Rose Bowl, and a Sugar Bowl, to go with two National Championship appearances. The team also went on two 19-game winning streaks: one in 2002-2003 and another in 2005-2006.

Tressel also earned the nickname “The Senator” for his calm demeanor on the sidelines and demure approach to press conferences and the media. Tressel was forced to resign and his team’s record was vacated in 2011 for failing to report major NCAA violations committed by players on his team. He served as a consultant for the Indianapolis Colts for the 2011 season.

After retiring from football, Tressel took a position as Vice President of Strategic Engagement at Akron. He was named as a candidate for President of Youngstown State in 2013 but was passed over. After the president resigned, he was hired in 2014. He announced his retirement from the university in 2022 and left in 2023.

In his press release announcing Tressel’s nomination, DeWine said the lieutenant governor would have a large role in education and workforce development.

“Jim has spent a great deal of time working with and leading young people, and he will be involved directly with education and workforce development during the remaining two years of my administration,” DeWine said. “Jim Tressel knows Ohio, he shares Ohio’s values, and is a born leader.”

Ohio has something of a tradition of electing athletes to political office.

Dave Albritton, a 1936 Olympian high jumper, served as a state representative from 1961-1972.

Anthony Gonzalez, who was on the Indianapolis Colts roster in Super Bowl XLIV in 2010, served as U.S. Representative from Ohio’s 16th District from 2019-2023.

Former NCAA Champion Wrestler and Ohio State wrestling coach Jim Jordan has served as a state representative and state Senator, and is currently the Congressman from Ohio’s 4th District.

Tennis pro Jim Thomas currently serves in the state House of Representatives.