Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has selected Jim Tressel, the former Ohio State University football coach and past Youngstown State University president, as his nominee for lieutenant governor.
“I want someone who is constantly thinking, generating ideas, and working to improve the state,” DeWine said. “Jim Tressel is that guy.”
A Championship Legacy with a Complicated Past
At 72 years old, Tressel is best known for his success on the football field. He led the Buckeyes to a national championship in 2002, along with multiple Big Ten titles and Coach of the Year honors. Following his coaching career, he transitioned into academia, serving nearly a decade as Youngstown State’s president until 2023.
However, his time at Ohio State wasn’t without controversy. In 2011, Tressel resigned amid an NCAA investigation into players receiving improper benefits—an incident later dubbed “Tattoogate.” The scandal led to Ohio State vacating all wins from the 2010 season, including a Sugar Bowl victory, and resulted in NCAA sanctions against the program. Tressel, while denying wrongdoing, stepped down as head coach.
Today, with Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules allowing college athletes to legally profit from endorsements, many view scandals like Tattoogate as outdated relics of a pre-NIL era. In fact, in 2024, the NCAA made history by allowing schools to directly pay players for the first time ever.
Tressel’s Next Chapter
If confirmed, Tressel will replace Senator Jon Husted, who was recently appointed to fill the Senate seat vacated by Vice President J.D. Vance.
Reacting to his nomination, Tressel posted a C.S. Lewis quote on X (formerly Twitter):
“If you never take risks, you’ll never accomplish great things. Everybody dies, but not everyone has lived.”
As Ohio gears up for the 2026 governor’s race, current Attorney General Dave Yost has announced his candidacy, while Vivek Ramaswamy, a former 2024 GOP presidential candidate, is widely expected to enter the race as well.
