Former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel confirmed as lieutenant governor

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Two days after being named by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine as his pick for the state's new lieutenant governor, former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel now officially has the position.

Tressel was confirmed by the Ohio House of Representatives and Senate on Wednesday to serve as DeWine's new right-hand man. The house voted 68-27 in favor of Tressel while the Senate voted 31-1. Democrat Beth Liston was the only state senator to vote no.

"I'm going to become very informed," said Tressel. "And what I hope I can do as I've done in all the positions I've had has been a good listener, become aware of what people are thinking and why they're thinking it, be compassionate about how it affects them and and how their how they're viewing it."

The 72-year-old from Mentor, Ohio replaces former lieutenant governor Jon Husted, who DeWine picked as the new U.S. Senator after the resignation of JD Vance to become Vice President.

The former Ohio State and Youngstown State football coach will now assume the job through the end of Husted's term in January 2027. DeWine is ineligible for a third term as governor and Tressel has not indicated if he will run for governor in 2026.

One of the areas Tressel wants to focus on is education across the state. "We've got to make sure that we raise up the greatest thinkers and innovators and researchers in the world so that we can equip those great opportunities and continue this momentum we have for Ohio being a destination," Tressel said.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost will seek the Republican nomination, and he is expected to be joined by businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. DeWine’s former health director, Amy Acton, has said she’ll seek the Democratic nomination.

Ohioans were surprised to see Tressel as DeWine's selection during Monday's new conference after Lydia Mihalik, the director of the state department of development, was heavily favored to be chosen for the lieutenant governor role.

Tressel has never held public office but has served in multiple leadership roles in football and college administration. After leading Youngstown State to four national championships, he was hired as Ohio State's next football coach. In 10 seasons with the Buckeyes, he led the team to the 2002 national title and won over 100 games, including nine against Michigan.

He resigned as Ohio State's coach in 2011 after an NCAA investigation regarding players trading memorabilia, including jerseys and championships rings, for services such as tattoos and car rentals. While serving a “show cause” penalty away from coaching, he became Youngstown State's university president from 2014 to 2023.