Former Buckeyes Football Coach Nominated for Ohio’s Lt. Governor

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel is poised to become Ohio’s next lieutenant governor, stepping into a role that has been vacant since Jon Husted’s appointment to the U.S. Senate last month.

The lieutenant governor serves as the second-ranking official in Ohio’s executive branch, often taking on ceremonial duties and specific initiatives, such as technology safety, while stepping in for the governor when necessary.

Gov. Mike DeWine announced Tressel’s nomination during a press conference on Monday, highlighting his desire for someone who could prioritize education and workforce development. Tressel’s appointment requires approval from state lawmakers for him to serve the remaining two years of the current term.

Tressel is widely recognized for his decade-long leadership of the Ohio State football team, culminating in a national championship in 2002. He resigned in 2011 following an NCAA rules violation scandal. Tressel later worked briefly as a consultant for the Indianapolis Colts and as vice president of strategic engagement at the University of Akron. He most recently served as president of Youngstown State University for 10 years before retiring in 2023.

Acknowledging his limited political experience, Tressel stated, “I don’t know this world. Fortunately, I believe in our governor and what he stands for. My first job is to learn about it.” His nomination came as a surprise to some, with WCMH-TV reporting that Ohio Department of Development director Lydia Mihalik had been considered a likely candidate.

Gov. DeWine, who has a background in sports ownership through his family’s minor league baseball team, may have a particular affinity for leaders from the sports world. It is not unprecedented for former football coaches to transition into politics, as seen with Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), who once coached at Cincinnati, and former President Gerald Ford, who coached at Yale.

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