Ohio Governor Mike DeWine named ex-Ohio State University football coach Jim Tressel as the next of Office of Ohio's Lieutenant Governor on February 10, 2025. This address to an empty office created by Jon Husted, who took a seat in the U.S. Senate after promotion of J.D. Vance to the Vice Presidency of the United States.
WATCH LIVE: Gov. DeWine announces Jim Tressel for next lieutenant governor of Ohio
From Gridiron to Governance
Nicknamed "The Senator" during his time at Ohio State, Jim Tressel has had perhaps one of the more interesting careers both on and off the field. Before he became appointed to that post, he was serving as the president of Youngstown State University; he retired from there in 2023 after nearly a decade. His educational and community involvement were mentioned by Governor DeWine as key reasons for his selection.
The highlight of Tressel's coaching career was the national championship of the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2002, together with seven Big Ten championships. His style of football, sometimes referred to as "Tresselball," had the emphasis on defense and playing smart, which appealed to many within Ohio as a disciplined approach and one in which the final score often showed it. Now, as an administrator in higher education at Youngstown State, he has shown his leadership in fostering partnerships for economic development and workforce training.
A New Chapter
The appointment of Tressel into this political position has created a buzz of conversation throughout the state. As stated by Governor DeWine upon the announcement, "Jim Tressel knows Ohio, shares my values, and has the ability to pull people together. His experience in leadership and education will be invaluable in this position."
But the appointment isn't without its critics. Some question whether Tressel's background in athletics and education adequately prepared him for the complex subtleties of state government. Critics point to controversies from his past, including the NCAA infractions by his players that forced him to resign from Ohio State in 2011, implying his track record isn't spotless on matters related to oversight and compliance.
Community and Political Reactions
Social media is mixed: Ohio State fans and alumni like the fact with excitement that one of their own is getting a state leadership role, while others question his preparedness for such an important political position. Messages posted to X include Tressel's strong roots to Ohio, his crisis leadership in times of extreme difficulty at YSU, and the potential he brings for a fresh understanding of state governance.
With a strong Republican majority seen in the Ohio House and Senate, confirmation is most expected for Tressel. His nomination will surely face heavy scrutiny from both the left and the right as it zeroes in on his vision regarding Ohio's educational and economic policies.
Outlook
Tressel, 72, said he'll hit the books to learn the ways of state government. "I don't know this world," Tressel said during the announcement, "but I believe in our governor and what he believes in. My first job is to go to school on that."
With Tressel's appointment, Ohio may be getting a mixture of old-school conservative values and a focus on education and workforce development-the areas in which he has been so heavily involved. How well he will do in this position largely depends on how well he can translate his leadership style from the football field and university campus to the political arena in Columbus.
Whether Tressel can repeat those successes in football and academia at this level, nobody knows, but his hiring promises an interesting chapter in Ohio's political tale now that everyone has eyes trained on this ex-coach-cum-statesman.
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