Former national champion football coach at Ohio State and political rookie Jim Tressel took the first step in becoming Ohio’s new lieutenant governor when the Senate confirmed him on Wednesday.
Tressel, nominated by Gov. Mike DeWine to fill the role vacated by U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, still must get confirmed by the House before officially taking the position.
Tressel’s confirmation passed 31-1.
Husted was appointed to fill the seat of Vice President J.D. Vance.
The House was scheduled to be in session Wednesday afternoon, but Tressel’s nomination was not on the agenda. It’s scheduled to meet again Feb. 26.
“He’s enabled himself to become one of the greatest leaders we’ve had in this state,” Senate President Rob McColley, R-Napoleon. “I expect he will bring that leadership with him to being the lieutenant governor in a manner that will make all Ohioans proud.”
Tressel, 72, was born in Mentor and coached Ohio State from 2001-10, leading the Buckeyes to a national championship in 2002 with a win over previously undefeated Miami in the Orange Bowl. Ohio State appeared in three national championship games under Tressel.
He resigned in 2011 after several players were accused of trading jerseys and gold pants awarded for beating Michigan for tattoos.
Most recently, he served as president of Youngstown State University from 2014 until 2023.
