Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced former OSU Football Coach Jim Tressel to serve as his lieutenant governor.

Tressel would replace Jon Husted, who served as lieutenant governor until Governor DeWine appointed him to the U.S. Senate last month.

Tressel most recently served as the president of Youngstown State University before retiring in 2023. Tressel also served 15 years as the head coach of Youngstown State University’s football team before becoming head football coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes for 10 seasons. After leaving Ohio State, he served as executive vice president for student success at the University of Akron.

Governor DeWine said that Tressel’s background in education, workforce development, and economic development played a large role in his decision to ask him to take on the lieutenant governor role.

“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,” said Governor DeWine. “Jim Tressel knows Ohio, he shares Ohio’s values, and is a born leader.”

“This is really a humbling moment,” said Tressel. “I believe in our governor and what he believes in. I promised for the next 699 days to have a singleness of purpose and singleness of focus, which is to serve the needs that the governor outlines.”

Tressel must be confirmed by the Ohio Senate and Ohio House of Representatives.

In response, the Ohio Senate President Rob McColley said “I appreciate the Governor’s nomination of President Tressel who has dedicated his career to guiding our youth on both the gridiron as a coach and in the classroom as a college president. I look forward to hearing more from Jim Tressel as the Senate carries out its confirmation duties as directed by the Ohio Constitution.”

Also, Ohio Chamber President & CEO Steve Stivers said, “The Ohio Chamber applauds Gov. DeWine’s nomination of Jim Tressel as lieutenant governor following former Lt. Gov. Jon Husted’s appointment to the U.S. Senate. With his wealth of experience in the education field, Jim understands its importance in building Ohio’s workforce of tomorrow. To that end, since leaving Youngstown State University in 2023, Jim has heavily involved himself in state workforce development discussions and policymaking, and he will certainly continue to prioritize these issues in his new role for the benefit of the business community and all Ohioans.”

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