Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine announced on Monday morning that he has nominated legendary Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel to be the state’s next lieutenant governor.
“He has the requisite skill sets, he has the criteria that I outlined. He knows Ohio,” DeWine said. “Jim Tressel, I trust his judgment. He is a born leader.”
DeWine nominated Tressel to fill the role vacated by former Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. DeWine appointed Husted to replace JD Vance as U.S. Senator after Vance left Congress to serve as vice president in the Trump administration.
Tressel coached Ohio State for 10 seasons, amassing an impressive 106-22 record, including a 66-14 record in the Big Ten Conference.
When he resigned in 2011, he was tied with former Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops for the most appearances in BCS bowl games, according to ESPN.
Tressel had a 5-3 record in those games, including a 1-2 record in games that determined the national champion, the report added.
He is the only coach in NCAA history to win more than 100 games at two different schools, Ohio State and Youngstown State, the report said.
Husted praised Tressel in a post on X after DeWine made the announcement.
“@GovMikeDeWine made a great Lieutenant Governor pick in Jim Tressel,” Husted posted on X shortly after the announcement. “Lt. Governor Tressel will continue to advance Ohio’s economic and workforce development strategies. He’s a winner!”
