COLUMBUS, Ohio – February 10, 2025 – Former Ohio State football coach and Youngstown State University president Jim Tressel has been nominated by Governor Mike DeWine to serve as Ohio’s next lieutenant governor.
DeWine made the announcement Monday at a press conference, praising Tressel as a “natural leader” who will succeed Jon Husted, the outgoing lieutenant governor recently tapped to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by JD Vance’s election as vice president.
The nomination now heads to the Ohio Senate and House for approval.
From the Gridiron to Government
Tressel, 71, retired in 2023 after serving nearly a decade as president of Youngstown State University. Before that, he was head coach of Ohio State’s football team from 2001 to 2010, leading the Buckeyes to a national championship in 2002 and six Big Ten titles.
“He has the requisite skill sets. He has the criteria that I outlined. He knows Ohio,” DeWine said. “Jim Tressel, I trust his judgment. He is a born leader.”
The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) today congratulated Jim Tressel on his nomination to be Ohio’s Lt. Governor.
“Governor DeWine’s choice to nominate Jim Tressel as Lt. Governor is a win for Ohio and a win for Ohio manufacturing. From his success as a football coach, in academia, and in workforce development, Jim Tressel knows Ohio.
The OMA congratulates Jim Tressel on his nomination of Lt. Governor and looks forward to the continued work of protecting and growing Ohio’s number one industry; manufacturing!”
Future Political Aspirations?
While some speculate that Tressel’s appointment could be a stepping stone toward a run for governor in 2026, DeWine said the two have not yet discussed that possibility.
Tressel’s nomination marks a unique crossover from athletics and academia to politics, positioning the former coach for a significant role in Ohio’s government.
