The Governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine, has put forward Jim Tressel for consideration as the next lieutenant governor, a surprising move given Tressel’s illustrious background as a star college football coach famous for leading Ohio State University to a national championship. Governor DeWine, a Republican, highlighted Tressel’s innovative thinking and wealth of experience as reasons for his nomination during a press conference on Monday.
In order to assume the role of lieutenant governor, Tressel, who is 72 years old, must first receive confirmation from the state legislature. If approved, he will take over from Senator Jon Husted, whom Governor DeWine appointed to fill the Senate seat vacated by Vice President JD Vance. With DeWine reaching his term limit and Husted’s subsequent move to the Senate, Ohio’s political landscape has experienced a series of changes.
Although Tressel did not hint at any future political ambitions, speculations have arisen regarding a potential gubernatorial run in 2026. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has already announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for governor, while biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, a close associate of former President Donald Trump and Vance, is anticipated to launch his campaign this month.
Having previously served as the president of Youngstown State University, Tressel has been a subject of political rumors for some time, but has never taken the plunge into running for office. Notably, he played a significant role in fundraising for former Ohio Representative Anthony Gonzalez, who had been a player under Tressel at Ohio State. Tressel’s coaching success extended beyond Ohio State, having led the Youngstown State Penguins to four NCAA Division I-AA national championships before his tenure with the Buckeyes.
Reflecting on his nomination, Tressel expressed surprise at the unexpected turn of events. His departure from Ohio State in 2011 was marked by controversy surrounding the football program and an NCAA investigation related to players selling memorabilia to a tattoo parlor.
[Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly identified the individual pictured with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine in a caption as Jim Tressel. The photo has been updated to feature only Tressel, with the correct identification of Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam.]
