Jim Tressel

Last updated

No, are you kidding? ... I'm just hoping the coach doesn't dismiss me.

Ohio State President Gordon Gee, when asked whether he would fire Tressel [40]

Ohio State President Gordon Gee assured the public that Tressel would not lose his job over the matter. [41] On April 25, 2011, the NCAA accused Tressel of withholding information and lying to keep Buckeyes players on the field. In a "notice of allegations" sent to Ohio State, the NCAA charged that Tressel's actions were considered "potential major violations" which had "permitted football student-athletes to participate in intercollegiate athletics while ineligible." The report also said he "failed to comport himself ... (with) honesty and integrity" and that he lied when he filled out a compliance form in September stating that he had no knowledge of NCAA violations by any of his players. [42] Tressel later stated that he lied about the violations because he didn't want to jeopardize the FBI's investigation against Rife and also feared for his players' safety. Despite his stated safety concerns, Tressel only briefly spoke with two players, never inquired of the two if other players were involved and also in danger, nor in his discussions with players ever mentioned Mr. Rife, the tattoo parlor, or the selling of Ohio State merchandise. [43] The NCAA's report explicitly refuted the credibility of this excuse. [43]

Tressel resigned as Ohio State's head football coach on May 30, 2011. [44] Three days earlier, Sports Illustrated reported that it had found evidence that the memorabilia-for-tattoos scandal dated back to at least the 2002 national championship season, and as many as 28 players were involved. Early on the morning of Memorial Day, Gee and Smith called Tressel back from his vacation in Colorado and asked for his resignation. [45] [46] The Columbus Dispatch reported that Gee had appointed a special committee to examine the scandal's impact on the school. It also reported that Ohio State had been looking to cut ties with Tressel for several weeks. [47] Tressel said in a statement released by the university, "After meeting with university officials, we agreed that it is in the best interest of Ohio State that I resign as head football coach. The appreciation that Ellen and I have for the Buckeye Nation is immeasurable." Luke Fickell, previously co-defensive coordinator and assistant head coach, served as head coach for the 2011 football season. [48]

Tressel left Ohio State as the third-winningest coach in school history, behind Woody Hayes and John Cooper. However, on July 8, 2011, Ohio State vacated all of its wins from the 2010 season and placed the football program on two years' probation. [49]

On December 20, 2011, the NCAA placed Ohio State on an additional one year's probation and banned it from postseason play in 2012 for numerous major violations under Tressel's watch. It also imposed a five-year show-cause penalty on Tressel, which means any NCAA member that wants to hire him would have to "show cause" for why it shouldn't be sanctioned for hiring him, and could face severe penalties if he commits any further violations during that time. The order stood until December 19, 2016; given past precedent, this likely had the effect of blackballing Tressel from the coaching ranks until the 2017 season. Had Tressel coached during this period, he would have been suspended for the first five games of the regular season, plus any conference championship game or bowl game.

Indianapolis Colts

On September 2, 2011, Tressel was hired by the Indianapolis Colts as a game-day/replay consultant. Tressel was suspended by the Colts until the 7th game of the season due to his involvement in the NCAA violations during his tenure as head coach at Ohio State.

Administrative career

University of Akron

On February 2, 2012, Tressel accepted a non-athletic-department position where he started his coaching career, the University of Akron. [50] His title was Vice President of Strategic Engagement.

Return to Youngstown State University

In January 2013, various media reports stated that Tressel would possibly return to Youngstown State to replace retiring university president Cynthia Anderson as the next president of the university. Tressel was still revered in the area and a new athletic training complex bearing his name, the Watson and Tressel Training Site, opened on campus in 2011. [51] However, Tressel's highest level of education is a master's degree; a doctorate is commonplace for a university president position in the United States. Combined with the show-cause penalty that was in effect for Tressel until 2016, on paper it would have been a tough sell for YSU to bring back Tressel. Supporters for bringing back Tressel also cited this, but mentioned that as university president, his primary job would be for fundraising, in which Tressel had previously excelled over the years as head coach at both YSU and Ohio State. [52] [53]

On May 10, 2013, Randy Dunn was chosen as successor to Anderson [54] but only stayed on the job for seven months ultimately leaving for Southern Illinois University. After Dunn's sudden departure, Tressel's name again came up for the position, with Tressel officially applying for the position on April 13, 2014, while simultaneously still being one of 19 candidates for the University of Akron president's job. [55] Nearly a month later, on May 9, 2014, the YSU Board of Trustees offered Tressel the university president position after a unanimous vote, [56] after which Tressel accepted the position as YSU's new president and announced he was officially retired from coaching. [57] On June 23, 2022, Tressel announced his retirement effective February 1, 2023. [58]

As Youngstown State president, Tressel was credited for increasing graduation rates from 35 to 49%, quadrupling the size of the Honors College, and adding hundreds of units of dormitories and apartments to increase the number of students living on or near campus. Tressel helped lead a delegation to obtain $10 million in federal funds to improve roadways around the university. He also fostered closer ties with the business community, creating an Excellence Training Center which offers certificates to students for in demand jobs, and aligning research with the needs of local businesses. The university raised over $150 million during Tressel's tenure. [59] [60]

Head coaching record

Jim Tressel
Jim Tressel (090527-F-5342S-556) (cropped).jpg
Tressel in 2009 while with Ohio State
9th President of
Youngstown State University
In office
May 9, 2014 February 1, 2023
YearTeamOverallConferenceStandingBowl/playoffs Coaches#AP°
Youngstown State Penguins (Ohio Valley Conference)(1986–1987)
1986 Youngstown State2–92–57th
1987 Youngstown State 8–45–1T–1stL NCAA Division I-AA First Round
Youngstown State Penguins (NCAA Division I-AA independent)(1988–1996)
1988 Youngstown State4–7
1989 Youngstown State 9–4L NCAA Division I-AA Second Round
1990 Youngstown State11–1L NCAA Division I-AA First Round
1991 Youngstown State 12–3W NCAA Division I-AA Championship
1992 Youngstown State 11–3–1L NCAA Division I-AA Championship
1993 Youngstown State 13–2W NCAA Division I-AA Championship
1994 Youngstown State 14–0–1W NCAA Division I-AA Championship
1995 Youngstown State3–8
1996 Youngstown State8–3
Youngstown State Penguins (Gateway Football Conference)(1997–2000)
1997 Youngstown State 13–24–23rdW NCAA Division I-AA Championship
1998 Youngstown State6–53–3T–3rd
1999 Youngstown State 12–35–12ndL NCAA Division I-AA Championship
2000 Youngstown State9–34–2T–2ndL NCAA Division I-AA First Round
Youngstown State:135–57–223–14
Ohio State Buckeyes (Big Ten Conference)(2001–2010)
2001 Ohio State 7–55–33rdL Outback
2002 Ohio State 14–08–0T–1stW Fiesta 11
2003 Ohio State 11–26–2T–2ndW Fiesta 44
2004 Ohio State 8–44–4T–5thW Alamo 1920
2005 Ohio State 10–27–1T–1stW Fiesta 44
2006 Ohio State 12–18–01stL BCS NCG 22
2007 Ohio State 11–27–11stL BCS NCG 55
2008 Ohio State 10–37–1T–1stL Fiesta 99
2009 Ohio State 11–27–11stW Rose 55
2010 Ohio State 0–10–1Vacated Sugar 55
Ohio State:94–2256–14
Total:229–79–2
      National championship        Conference title        Conference division title or championship game berth

* Ohio State vacated all 12 wins from 2010, including the Sugar Bowl, due to ineligible players. [61] [62]

Awards and honors

National Championships

Coach of The Year

Halls of Fame

State/local

Coaching tree

Coached under:

Former assistants who became NCAA Division I FBS or NFL head coaches:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Wilkins</span> American football player (born 1972)

Jeffrey Allen Wilkins, nicknamed "Money", is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and St. Louis Rams of the National Football League (NFL). With the Rams, he won Super Bowl XXXIV over the Tennessee Titans. He played college football for Youngstown State University. Wilkins is currently tied for second place all time in most consecutive PATs without a miss at 371.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry</span> College football rivalry in the United States

The Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry, referred to as The Game by some fans and sports commentators, is an American college football rivalry game that is played annually between the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes. As of 2023, Michigan and Ohio State are the winningest and third winningest programs in NCAA Division I football history, respectively. The rivalry has gathered profound national interest as many of the games determined the Big Ten Conference title and the resulting Rose Bowl Game matchups, as well as the outcome of the NCAA Division I college football championship. In 2000, the game was ranked by ESPN as the greatest North American sports rivalry ever. The rivalry is listed in Rivals!: The Ten Greatest American Sports Rivalries of the 20th Century, published by Wiley. Encyclopædia Britannica includes the rivalry as one of the ten great sports rivalries in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ohio State Buckeyes football</span> Football team of Ohio State University

The Ohio State Buckeyes football team competes as part of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, representing the Ohio State University in the Big Ten Conference. Ohio State has played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, since 1922.

Pepe Pearson is a former American football tailback, starting in college for the Ohio State Buckeyes, and is currently the running backs coach for the Tarleton State Texans.

The history of Ohio State Buckeyes football covers 125 years through the 2014 season. The team has represented the Ohio State University in the Western Conference, its successor the Big Ten, and in the NCAA Division I. Its history parallels the development of college football as a major sport in the United States and demonstrates the status of the Buckeyes as one of its major programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team</span> American college football season

The 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented Ohio State University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Buckeyes were coached by Jim Tressel and played their home games in Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Tressel led the Buckeyes to their fourth Big Ten Conference championship and third BCS National Championship Game in six years. The team finished the season with overall record of 11–2, with losses to conference-rival Illinois and LSU in the 2008 BCS National Championship Game.

Mark Snyder is an American football coach. He previously was the defensive line and linebackers coach for the Orlando Guardians of the XFL linebackers coach for the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League (USFL). Snyder served as the head football coach at Marshall University from 2005 to 2009 after a four-year tenure as defensive coordinator at Ohio State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 Ohio State Buckeyes football team</span> American college football season

The 2005 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented Ohio State University in the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team's head football coach was Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes played their home games in Ohio Stadium. The team finished the season with a win–loss record of 10–2, and a Big Ten Conference record of 7–1. They tied for the Big Ten championship with Penn State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Youngstown State Penguins</span> Athletic teams of Youngstown State University

The Youngstown State Penguins are the athletic teams of Youngstown State University of Youngstown, Ohio. The university is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I, and the Penguins compete in football as members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Most other sports compete as members of the Horizon League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 Ohio State Buckeyes football team</span> American college football season

The 2001 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented Ohio State University in the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. It marked their first season under new head coach Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes compiled a 7–5 record, capped by a 26–20 victory over their rival the Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor in the regular season finale. The Buckeyes went on to play in the 2002 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida, where they lost, 31–28, to the South Carolina Gamecocks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Fiesta Bowl</span> College football game

The 2009 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Texas Longhorns on Monday, January 5, 2009, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Texas participated in the Fiesta Bowl because the Big 12 champion University of Oklahoma Sooners were participating in the 2009 BCS National Championship Game; however the bowl kept its ties to the Big 12 by selecting the Longhorns, who did not play in the championship game as they beat Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry, 45–35, then lost to Texas Tech and Texas Tech in turn lost to Oklahoma and dictated that a tiebreaker would decide that the highest BCS ranked team for the Big 12 South the week of November 28, 2008 would be in the title game. The Buckeyes were chosen as an at-large school as co-champions of the Big Ten Conference, having lost the right to play in the Rose Bowl due to a 13–6 loss to Penn State on October 25.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Youngstown State Penguins football</span> College football team

The Youngstown State Penguins football team represents Youngstown State University in American college football. Youngstown State currently plays as a member of the NCAA at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision and are a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). The Penguins have played their home games in Stambaugh Stadium, more commonly called "The Ice Castle," since 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ohio State–Penn State football rivalry</span> American college football

The Ohio State–Penn State football rivalry is an American college football match between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Penn State Nittany Lions. Ohio State leads the series 24–14.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Ohio State Buckeyes football team</span> American college football season

The 2010 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented Ohio State University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Buckeyes were coached by Jim Tressel and played their home games in Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. They were members of the Big Ten Conference.

The 2011 Allstate Sugar Bowl was an American college football bowl game that was part of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) for the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season and was the 77th Sugar Bowl. The contest took place on January 4, 2011, in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The game had an 8 p.m. (ET) kickoff. Paul Hoolahan was the executive director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Ohio State Buckeyes football team</span> American college football season

The 2011 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented Ohio State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Buckeyes were coached by Luke Fickell on an interim basis following the resignation of Jim Tressel as head coach. The Buckeyes played their home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio and are members of the Big Ten Conference in the Leaders Division.

Mike Tressel is an American football coach who is currently the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach for the Wisconsin Badgers. Tressel, the nephew of former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel, joined the University of Cincinnati's football coaching staff under Mark Dantonio in 2004. Tressel followed Dantonio to Michigan State when he was hired there in December 2006. He was named the acting head coach when Dantonio announced his retirement in February 2020. Tressel was one of two Dantonio assistants retained by Dantonio's successor, Mel Tucker.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 On July 9, 2011, Ohio State announced that it had vacated all 12 wins (and its share of the Conference championship) from the 2010 season due to major violations of NCAA rules in which ineligible players were allowed to play.
  2. "Ohio State waives fine, instead will pay Tressel $52,250".
  3. Dienhart, Tom (2001). "Cougars deserve to celebrate – College Football/Insider – Brigham Young University football team". The Sporting News. Archived from the original on February 23, 2007. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  4. Marot, Michael (2011). "Indianapolis hires Jim Tressel as consultant". The Associated Press. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
  5. "Tressel to speak at Statehood Day luncheon". Dispatch.com. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
  6. "Tressel named Vice President of Strategic Engagement". University of Akron. February 2, 2012. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  7. "About Coach Tressell". thewinnersmanual.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2011. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
  8. "1985 Citrus Bowl". byucougars.com. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  9. ZUPANIC, JEFFREY. "Vince and Larry Kehres reach 400 wins at Mount Union". The Review. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  10. White, Mike. "Jim Tressel: More Than a Football Coach". Archived from the original on July 29, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
  11. Nethers, David. "Some of the Best College Football Programs in the Country Are Not in Division 1A". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
  12. "Jim Tressel Biography". Archived from the original on June 27, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  13. "Ohio State Football: Tressel had early history of warnings" . Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  14. Farrey, Tom. Souls of the departed haunt Youngstown. ESPN, November 12, 2004.
  15. "Youngstown State." Watson and Tressel Training Site. N.p., n.d. Web. December 12, 2013.
  16. "Tressels, Watsons donate $1M to YSU campaign" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 2, 2010. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  17. "Tressel eyes finally bucking the Wolverines". Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  18. "Year-By-Year Coaching Records (page 108)" (PDF). Retrieved April 24, 2008.[ permanent dead link ]
  19. "Ohio State football: Help make the pick". September 13, 2007. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  20. "Buckeyes buy Tressel's special teams message". January 7, 2007. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  21. "Tressel wows crowd of Ohio lawmakers". Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  22. "Tressel, Ohio State made for each other". January 3, 2008. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  23. 1 2 "Tresselball just keeps winning". November 15, 2003. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  24. Napfel, Sean. "Breaking News: Jim Tressel resigns". onpointsportsblog.com. Archived from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
  25. Jim Tressel Biography
  26. "Game Summary – January 1, 2002" . Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  27. "Carroll's (Mont.) Mike Van Diest Wins 2007 AFCA Coach of the Year". Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  28. "Football – 2002 Schedule & Results" . Retrieved April 24, 2008.[ permanent dead link ]
  29. "Finally, No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Michigan Is A Reality". Archived from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  30. "Buckeyes Again Fall Short In Title Game". Archived from the original on August 20, 2008. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  31. "Donors vital to OSU library revamp". Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  32. "The Tressel Family Fund for Cancer Prevention Research" . Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  33. "The Man in the Sweater Vest". Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  34. "Remembrance Park At OSU Dedicated; Tressels Attend". Archived from the original on April 4, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  35. May, Tim (March 10, 2011). "OSU football: Source of e-mails to Tressel revealed | BuckeyeXtra". Dispatch.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  36. Staples, Andy (March 8, 2011). "Tressel gets two-game suspension, $250K fine for rules violation". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  37. "Ohio State football: Tressel's emails were forwarded". Archived from the original on July 28, 2012.
  38. url=http://www.osu.edu/news/ncaadocs/
  39. Thamel, Pete (March 17, 2011). "Tressel Requests Five-Game Suspension". The New York Times. Retrieved March 18, 2011.
  40. Freking, Grant. "Give Tressel the boot". The Lantern. Columbus, Ohio. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  41. "Ohio St suspends Tressel 2 games for violation". e Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  42. Miller, Rusty (April 25, 2011). "NCAA alleges Tressel lied to hide NCAA violations". Associated Press. Retrieved April 26, 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  43. 1 2 Schlabach, Mark. NCAA sends message to Ohio State. ESPN, December 20, 2011.
  44. Rittenburg, Adam (May 30, 2011). "Report: Jim Tressel tenders resignation".
  45. George Dohrmann; David Epstein (May 30, 2011). "SI investigation reveals eight-year pattern of violations under Tressel". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on June 1, 2011.
  46. Dohrmann, George, "The Fall of Jim Tressel", Sports Illustrated , June 6, 2011, pp. 40–48.
  47. Mike Wagner; Ken Gordon; Jiil Riepenhoff (May 30, 2011). "Sources: Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel was encouraged to resign". The Columbus Dispatch.
  48. "Tressel resigns at Ohio State". Fox Sports. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  49. "Ohio State vacates 2010 wins, puts self on probation". CNN. July 8, 2011. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
  50. "Tressel named Vice President of Strategic Engagement". The University of Akron.
  51. "Watson and Tressel Training Site".
  52. http://www.wkbn.com/content/news/local/story/Search-for-New-YSU-President-Begins/GhL5IUAKt0GAbbyXyGqPrw.cspx%5B%5D
  53. "YSU President Tressel?". Vindy.com.
  54. "YSU's next president to start July 15". Vindy.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  55. "Jim Tressel applies to become Youngstown State president".
  56. "Youngstown State offers president's job to Jim Tressel". USA Today .
  57. "Youngstown St. offers presidency to Tressel". May 9, 2014.
  58. "Jim Tressel to depart as Youngstown State University president in February 2023". June 23, 2022.
  59. "Looking at 'The Tressel Years': A lasting impression". WKBN.com. February 2, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  60. Nelson, George (January 25, 2023). "Tressel Reflects on Time as YSU President". Business Journal Daily | The Youngstown Publishing Company. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  61. "Missouri Valley Football Conference Year-by-Year Standings" (PDF).
  62. "ALL-TIME OVC YEAR-BY-YEAR FINAL STANDINGS" (PDF).
  63. "B-W: Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees". Bw.edu. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  64. "2012 - Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame". clevelandsportshall.com.
  65. "Jim Tressel - YSU Athletics Hall of Fame - Contributor". Youngstown State.
  66. "Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2015 Announced". June 10, 2015.
  67. "B-W: Tressel Field". Bw.edu. September 20, 2008. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved May 31, 2011.