COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel has been picked to replace Sen. Jon Husted as the state's lieutenant governor.
Gov. Mike DeWine announced Tressel's appointment during a Monday news conference, nearly three weeks after Husted was sworn into the Senate vacancy on Jan. 21 left by newly inaugurated Vice President JD Vance. Tressel will now need to be confirmed by the Ohio House of Representatives and Senate before he assumes the role, which could come as soon as this week. Both chambers are in session on Wednesday.
"Jim Tressel, I trust his judgement. He is a born leader," said DeWine during Monday's announcement. "He shares that vision for the future of the state of Ohio, he has the ability to pull people together."
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine talks with former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel while standing on the sideline prior to the start of an NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Kirk Irwin)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 03: Former head coach Jim Tressel and the 2002 National Championship team were honored between quarters of the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish game at Ohio Stadium on September 03, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - AUGUST 31: Former Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressel watches from the sidelines before the game against the Akron Zips and the Ohio State Buckeyes on August 31, 2024, at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 05: Former Ohio State head football coach Jim Tressel throws out the first pitch prior to the Major League Baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Guardians on May 5, 2023, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 08: Jim Tressel of Youngstown State/Ohio State attends The 2015 College Football Hall of Fame Class panel during the 58th Annual National Football Foundation Awards press conference held at The Waldorf=Astoria on December 8, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 27, 2015: Former Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Jim Tessel on the field prior to a game between the Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns on September 27, 2015 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by: 2015 Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - NOVEMBER 24, 2012: Former head coach Jim Tressel of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts to being carried off the field on the shoulders of his former players during a game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes won 26-21. (Photo by David Dermer/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
Former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel watches a scoreboard tribute for the 2002 national championship team during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Ohio State, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2003, file photo, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel holds up the championship trophy after Ohio State beat Miami 31-24 in two overtimes in the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz. The Associated Press has been ranking the best teams in college football for the last 80 seasons. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)
3 JAN 2003: Ohio State University Head Coach Jim Tressel celebrates the Buckeyes victory over Miami University during the National Championship Fiesta Bowl held at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, AZ. Ohio State defeated Miami 31-24 in double overtime to win the national championship. Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
TEMPE, AZ - JANUARY 3: Head coach Jim Tressel of the Ohio State Buckeyes smiles during the post game news conference after defeating the University of Miami Hurricanes in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium on January 3, 2003 in Tempe, Arizona. Ohio State won the game 31-24 in double-overtime, winning the NCAA National Championship. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 20: Head coach Jim Tressel of the Ohio State Buckeyes walks on the sidelines during the game against the Troy Trojans on September 20, 2008 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State won the game 28-10. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
College Football: Rose Bowl: Ohio State coach Jim Tressel with ESPN announcer John Saunders during interview after game vs Oregon. Media. Pasadena, CA 1/1/2010 CREDIT: Robert Beck (Photo by Robert Beck /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X83374 TK1 R9 F192 )
Joe Paterno of Penn State talks with Jim Tressel of Ohio State before their game on October 27, 2007. (Photo by Nabil K. Mark/Centre Daily Times/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 30: Head Coach Jim Tressel speaks to the media during a press conference before the start of Spring practices at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center at The Ohio State University on March 30, 2011 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Born in Mentor, Tressel most recently served as president of Youngstown State University from 2014 to 2023. Before becoming an administrator, he was the head football coach of the Youngstown State Penguins and the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2001 to 2010.
Tressel led the Buckeyes to 94 wins in 128 games and took Ohio State to three national championships, winning one in 2002 against Miami in the Fiesta Bowl. He won AFCA Coach of the Year, Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award and the Woody Hayes Trophy in 2002.
The 72-year-old resigned as Ohio State's head coach in 2011 after several of his players allegedly traded memorabilia, like jerseys and championships rings, in exchange for services such as tattoos and car rentals.
"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," said Ohio Senate President Rob McColley in a statement. "I look forward to hearing more from Jim Tressel as the Senate carries out its confirmation duties as directed by the Ohio Constitution."
If confirmed, Tressel will serve as lieutenant governor through the rest of Husted's term, which will end in January 2027 after the 2026 gubernatorial election, which is likely to feature billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy and Attorney General Dave Yost competing for the Republican nomination. Former Ohio Health Director Amy Acton is the sole Democrat to have entered the race.
During Monday's press conference, Tressel did not rule out jumping into the 2026 race for the governor's mansion.
"This probably is not a greater moment in our state than we've had in hundreds of years with opportunities," said Tressel on Monday. "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."
DeWine announced Husted's Senate appointment on Jan. 17, in the wake of Vance's 2024 White House victory alongside President Donald Trump. Husted is serving in the Senate until a November 2026 special election, where Ohioans will then get to decide who will complete Vance's term, which runs through 2028.
Lydia Mihalik, the director of the state department of development, was heavily favored to be chosen for the lieutenant governor role. Republican strategist Mike Gonidakis and Columbus Chamber of Commerce CEO Derrick Clay both previously told NBC4 Mihalik was the frontrunner given her past collaborations with DeWine and record supporting Ohio's businesses.
