Jim Tressel

James Patrick Tressel was born on December 5, 1952, and is a native of northeast Ohio. He is the 67th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, having been nominated by Governor Mike DeWine in February 2025 and confirmed by both the Ohio Senate and House of Representatives. He was sworn into office on February 14, 2025, following Jon Husted's appointment to fill the Senate seat vacated by JD Vance, who resigned after being elected Vice President of the United States.

Tressel is a member of the Republican Party. Before entering politics, he was a preeminent educator, football coach, and university administrator. He is best known for his legendary tenure as the head football coach at Ohio State University and later served as president of Youngstown State University from 2014 to 2023. During his time at YSU, he significantly improved freshman class quality, raised retention and graduation rates, and achieved record fundraising efforts.

In September 2025, Tressel announced he would not seek election as Ohio governor in 2026, stating the decision came after "considerable thought and prayer."

Education

Tressel graduated from Berea High School in suburban Cleveland. He earned his bachelor's degree in education from Baldwin-Wallace College, where he played quarterback for his father, Lee Tressel, who was the Yellow Jacket head football coach. He later received a master's degree in education from the University of Akron.

Political Experience

As Lieutenant Governor, Tressel is focused on education and workforce development, areas in which he has extensive expertise. He intends to build upon Ohio's record of achievement in these key sectors during the remaining years of the DeWine administration. Throughout his career, Tressel has demonstrated leadership working with young people in educational and athletic settings, bringing his championship-winning coaching experience and higher education administration background to state government.