By Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has appointed former Ohio State football coach and university administrator Jim Tressel as the state’s next lieutenant governor, bringing a well-known but unconventional figure into political leadership. Tressel, who led the Buckeyes to a national championship in 2002, will replace Jon Husted, who was appointed to the U.S. Senate after J.D. Vance’s election as vice president.
Acknowledging his lack of political experience, Tressel admitted he has much to learn. “I don’t know this world,” he said. “Fortunately, I believe in our governor and what he believes in. And my first job is to go to school on that.” While he remains focused on the current role, he did not dismiss the possibility of a future run for governor, reported The Statehouse News Bureau.
Tressel coached at the University of Akron, Miami University and Ohio State before being hired by Youngstown State. He led YSU’s football team to four national championships before he came back to Ohio State in 2001 to replace John Cooper. The Buckeyes’ win in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl was the first national championship for Ohio State since 1968. Tressel resigned in 2011 after the memorabilia-for-tattoos scandal broke and Ohio State had to vacate its wins for the 2010 season.
Tressel served as a vice president at the University of Akron and as Youngstown State president until February 2023. He’s known as a Christian conservative
Tressel’s appointment comes as Republican lawmakers are poised to pass Senate Bill 1, a measure that conservatives say will fight back against what they view as liberal indoctrination on public university campuses. The bill would ban nearly all diversity, equity and inclusion programs and training and would ban faculty strikes, among other provisions.
Tressel said education and workforce development are areas he wants to focus on as lieutenant governor.
“This probably is not a greater moment in our state than we have had in hundreds of years with opportunities. And we really need to do a good job of getting that workforce to execute those opportunities,” Tressel said.
Governor DeWine stressed that his decision was guided by two key factors: ensuring a capable successor in case of emergency and selecting a lieutenant governor who could actively contribute to the administration. “I want someone who could really contribute, someone who would be value-added for the people of the state of Ohio, someone who has all of the skill sets to be part of our team and to lead,” he told the outlet.
Governor DeWine described Tressel’s appointment as a strategic decision, emphasizing his leadership experience in education and workforce development, noted USA Today. “I want someone who would focus on education, someone who would focus on workforce,” DeWine said, highlighting these as key priorities for the administration’s remaining term. He also noted that he had previously sought Tressel’s input on education policy.
Tressel’s appointment aligns with a broader Republican push to reform higher education in Ohio. Lawmakers are advancing Senate Bill 1, which seeks to limit diversity, equity, and inclusion programs while restricting faculty strikes. As lieutenant governor, Tressel is expected to play a role in shaping these policies and supporting workforce development initiatives.
Before assuming the role, Tressel must receive confirmation from both chambers of the Ohio legislature. While his entry into politics marks a significant shift in his career, it remains to be seen whether this new position will lead to higher office in the future.
Tressel resigned from Ohio State in 2011 amid a scandal that had entangled the football program in an NCAA investigation, sparked by revelations that players had sold memorabilia to a local tattoo parlor owner.
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