COLUMBUS, Ohio – Gov. Mike DeWine Monday named former Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel as his nominee to serve as lieutenant governor.

DeWine announced the appointment during a news conference that was carried on the Ohio Channel. Tressel succeeds Jon Husted, who recently was appointed to fill the U.S. Senate vacancy created when J.D. Vance was elected vice president.

“This is really a humbling moment,” said Tressel, who was joined by his wife, Ellen, at the news conference.

DeWine said he has reached out to Tressel several times over the years on various matters. He contacted him nine days ago about serving as lieutenant governor.

“This is a guy with ideas,” DeWine said. “This is what I want him to bring to the table every single day.”

Tressel stepped down as YSU president just over two years ago, having served in that role for more than nine years. He came to prominence as YSU’s head football coach during the 1980s and 1990s, during which time he guided the university’s team to four 1-AA national championships before being hired to coach Ohio State University’s team, which he also coached to a national title.

YSU President Bill Johnson, who succeeded Tressel just over a year ago, lauded his predecessor’s legacy as “a leader, educator, and community builder [who] has had an immeasurable impact” on both Youngstown and Ohio. His commitment to public service and track record of bringing people together for the greater good makes him “an ideal choice” to serve as lieutenant governor, Johnson said.

“Throughout his distinguished career, Jim has proven time and again his exceptional ability to build and lead teams, bringing together diverse groups of people to achieve common goals. His passion for the Youngstown community, along with his vision for a stronger, more united region, has continued to drive positive change,” Johnson said. 

DeWine, who praised Husted for his service as lieutenant governor, said he considered “some amazing candidates” to succeed him. He considered two key criteria to fill the role: He wanted someone who could serve as governor if something happened to him during the remainder of his term and he wanted someone who could “really contribute” as lieutenant governor, “someone who has all the skill sets to be part of our team and to lead a number of different things.”

Additionally, he wanted someone who knew Ohio, could pull people together and shared his vision for the state. “We want everyone to live up to their God-given potential,” DeWine said. 

Alexa Sweeney Blackann, who credited Tressel for suggesting she serve in her current role as interim CEO of Lake to River Economic Development, said she and her organization were “thrilled” with the choice. 

“He is a strong advocate for the Lake to River region – looking forward to continued strong collaboration with the governor’s office,” she said.  

Guy Coviello, president and CEO of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, praised the governor’s choice and congratulated Tressel on the nomination.

“He is certainly someone who knows and cares for the needs of Ohio and the Mahoning Valley. His background in education and workforce development, as well as his championship pedigree, will suit him well in Gov. Mike DeWine’s administration and its plans to propel the state forward over the next two years,” he said.

“Jim Tressel is certainly no stranger to the most pressing and important issues facing the business community in the Mahoning Valley, from population to housing to education and career training in high-tech, in-demand industries,” said Lyle Huffman, the Regional Chamber’s executive vice president of government affairs and community impact.

“The Regional Chamber’s public policy agenda promotes programs and policies to address and improve those and other types of issues impacting our area,” he said. “We look forward to sitting down with the next lieutenant governor to discuss and advocate for our policies that lay the foundation for growth among our members and in the Valley.”

DeWine said he first became acquainted with Tressel when he served as YSU president and observed Mahoning Valley leaders’ reaction to him. “He knows how to pull education in together and to reach out to the business community,” he said.

Tressel said when he reached out to his wife after DeWine asked him about serving as lieutenant governor, she responded that it sounded like God had more work for him, and that if the governor thought he could help in the state that they should consider it. Since retiring as YSU president, he said he has told many people that he has “flunked retirement so far” but has been busy on “fun” and “important things.”

Tressel resigned, effective Aug. 31, as the special assistant to the board of trustees for philanthropy and engagement at YSU, a position he held since he stepped down from the YSU presidency. Last year, Tressel launched a podcast, “It’s All About the Team,” in partnership with The Business Journal.

The Ohio constitution requires both chambers of the General Assembly to confirm a nomination to fill a lieutenant governor vacancy. 

“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,” Ohio Senate President Rob McColley said.

Ohio House Majority Whip Nick Santucci of Niles, R-64th, also applauded the news and said he looked forward to working with the administration to advance the Lake-to River region’s key priorities.

“Tressel is a proven leader with a deep commitment to our state, demonstrated through his years as Youngstown State University’s president and his dedication to shaping future generations,” he said. “His leadership, vision, and ability to bring people together will serve Ohio well in this role.”

DeWine said Tressel’s specific roles haven’t been defined yet, but he anticipated that at least part of his work would involve education and workforce, as well as physical fitness.

Ohio probably has not had a “greater moment” in hundreds of years in terms of opportunities, Tressel said. “We really need to do a good job of getting that workforce to execute those opportunities, to find out what it is we need to do to take advantage of them.” 

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association applauded the selection.

“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 said in a statement.

“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,” the statement read.

The appointment also drew accolades from the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

“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,” the chamber said in a statement. “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.”

Pictured at top: Jim Tressel and Gov. Mike DeWine.