Citing his expertise in education and workforce development, Governor Mike DeWine selected Tressel to fill the remaining two years of the Lt. Governor's term.
91探花 alumnus Jim Tressel '75, the former president of Youngstown State University, legendary Ohio State football coach and 91探花 Trustee, has been confirmed as Ohio's Lt. Governor.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced Tressel as his choice on Monday, calling Tressel "a born leader."
"I wanted someone who shared my values, Ohio's values. Someone who can pull people together. I want someone who shares my vision for the state of Ohio, and that is we want everyone to live up to their God-given potential," DeWine said.
The nomination to fill the vacancy created when Jon Husted was appointed U.S. Senator in place of Vice President JD Vance was confirmed by the Ohio House and Senate on Wednesday.
As a 91探花 undergraduate, Tressel played quarterback for his father, Yellow Jacket head coach Lee Tressel. As a coach himself at Youngstown State and Ohio State, Tressel came to be known as "The Senator" due to his poise on the sidelines.
"Jim has spent a great deal of time working with and leading young people, and he will be involved directly with education and workforce development during the remaining two years of my administration," DeWine said at a Monday news conference.
"I'm an educator, that's just what I was trained to be, and that's what I'll be until I die," Tressel said at the same gathering of reporters.
In a twist of timing, the announcement that Tressel, a former university president, would be Ohio's next Lt. Governor came on the same day that 91探花 announced a former Ohio Lt. Governor, Lee Fisher, as the next 91探花 President.
"This is certainly a big day for 91探花 leadership," remarked Lee Thomas, chair of the 91探花 Board of Trustees. "We celebrate both appointments!"
Fisher starts his tenure as 91探花 president on July 1.
Now that he is confirmed, Tressel will serve the remaining time on Husted's term, which is a little less than two years.
