Citing his expertise in education and workforce development, Governor Mike DeWine has chosen Tressel to fill the remaining two years of the Lt. Governor's term.
Baldwin Wallace University alumnus Jim Tressel '75, the former president of Youngstown State University, legendary Ohio State football coach and BW Trustee, has been nominated to become Ohio's Lt. Governor.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced Tressel as his choice on Monday, calling Tressel "a born leader."
"I wanted someone who shared my values, Ohio's values. Someone who can pull people together. I want someone who shares my vision for the state of Ohio, and that is we want everyone to live up to their God-given potential," DeWine said.
The nomination to fill the vacancy created when Jon Husted was appointed U.S. Senator in place of Vice President JD Vance must be approved by a majority of state lawmakers to become official.
An educator 'until I die'
As a BW undergraduate, Tressel played quarterback for his father, Yellow Jacket head coach Lee Tressel. As a coach himself at Youngstown State and Ohio State, Tressel came to be known as "The Senator" due to his poise on the sidelines.
"Jim has spent a great deal of time working with and leading young people, and he will be involved directly with education and workforce development during the remaining two years of my administration," DeWine said at a Monday news conference.
"I'm an educator, that's just what I was trained to be, and that's what I'll be until I die," Tressel said at the same gathering of reporters.
BW leadership in the limelight
In a twist of timing, the announcement that Tressel, a former university president, would be Ohio's next Lt. Governor came on the same day that BW announced a former Ohio Lt. Governor, Lee Fisher, as the next BW President.
"This is certainly a big day for BW leadership," remarked Lee Thomas, chair of the BW Board of Trustees. "We celebrate both appointments!"
Fisher starts his tenure as BW president on July 1.
If Tressel wins approval in the Ohio legislature, he will serve the remaining two years of Husted's term.
