Jim Tressel Wiki: James Patrick Tressel, born on December 5, 1952, is an American university administrator and college football coach. From 2014 to 2023, he held the position of president at Youngstown State University.
Prior to assuming the role of administrator, Tressel served as the Youngstown State Penguins and Ohio State Buckeyes’ head football coach.
Jim Tressel Wiki: Early Life and Education
Jim Tressel, born in Mentor, Ohio, went to Baldwin–Wallace College. While studying there, he played football as a quarterback, being coached by his father, Lee Tressel. In 1975, he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Baldwin-Wallace College, and in 1977, he earned a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Akron.
Additionally, Jim Tressel has been granted Honorary Doctoral degrees from YSU (2001) and Baldwin-Wallace (2003).
Coaching Career
In 1986, Tressel commenced his tenure as the head coach at Youngstown State University.
Youngstown State
- In his first season, Youngstown State finished with a 2–9 record.
- In his second season, the team finished 8–4 and won the Ohio Valley Conference championship.
- From 1991 to 1994, Youngstown State played in the Division I-AA National Championship game four times.
- Jim Tressel won his first national championship in 1991, defeating Marshall.
- Youngstown State won additional national championships in 1993 and 1994.
- In 1997, Tressel secured his fourth national championship with a victory against McNeese State.
- During the 1990s, Youngstown State had the most wins (103) of any Division I-AA team.
- Tressel’s overall record at Youngstown was 135–57–2.
Ohio State
- In 2001, Jim Tressel became the head coach at Ohio State.
- Tressel declared the team would beat Michigan in Ann Arbor.
- Jim Tressel coached the Buckeyes to two 19-game winning streaks.
- In 2002, Tressel and the Buckeyes finished 14–0, winning the national championship.
- Tressel’s success made him the first coach to win the AFCA Coach of the Year award at different schools.
- He led Ohio State to national rankings every season, including seven finishes in the top five.
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Resignation
In May 2011, Jim Tressel stepped down following an NCAA investigation into OSU football players receiving improper benefits during the 2010 season. Consequently, OSU forfeited their victories from the 2010 season, including the 2011 Sugar Bowl.
Coaching Style and Nicknames
Jim Tressel gained recognition for his cautious approach to play calling, famously coined as “Tresselball”. He frequently emphasized the significance of the punt, considering it the utmost crucial play in football. Additionally, he earned the nicknames “The Senator” and “The Vest”.
Legacy
Jim Tressel accomplished the feat of winning five national championships in Ohio. He stands alone as the sole head coach to secure a national title in both divisions of college football. Tressel’s tenure as a head coach concluded with an impressive record of 229-79-2 (74.2%).
Post-Coaching Career
Following his departure from Ohio State, Tressel assumed the role of Executive Vice President for Student Success at the University of Akron. In 2014, he made his way back to YSU, this time as President. Tressel eventually retired from YSU in 2023.
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Personal Life
Jim Tressel is currently wedded to Ellen Watson. Prior to Ellen, Jim was married to Carol Kujanek and they had three children together: Zak, Carlee, and Whitney. On the other hand, Ellen has a child named Eric.
How old is Jim Tressel?
Jim Tressel was born on December 5, 1952. As of February 2025, Jim Tressel is 72 years old.
Net Worth
In addition to his annual salary of $3.5 million as the Ohio State football team’s head coach, Tressel also received income from brand endorsements including Nike and Coca-Cola.
Jim Tressel’s net worth is estimated to be between $16 million and $18 million, mainly derived from his highly successful coaching tenure at both Youngstown State University and Ohio State University.
