Jim Tressel

     Perhaps no other coach, in all of college football, has been as successful as Jim Tressel. Coach Tressel (a 1975 graduate of Baldwin-Wallace) came to YSU in 1986 ... after assistant "stops" at Akron, Miami (OH), Syracuse and Ohio State. Since that time, his success has certainly been "one for the record books".
     There is not enough room on this page to "do justice" to the Tressel legacy, but here are a few highlights. While at YSU, coach Tressel enhanced the "smashmouth" tradition of football with precision offense and stifling defense. In the decade of the 90's alone, Tressel led his Penguins to 7 play-off appearances, 5 title game appearances and 4 national titles. In addition, he had an above-.500 winning percentage against IA opposition. His former assistant coaches are spread throughout the country (both college and NFL) and are perhaps the most sought-after commodities in college football today. Along with his father (the late Lee Tressel) and brother Dick, the Tressel family are #2 in all-time family wins ... behind only the Bowdens.
     Coach Tressel, while at YSU, received dozens of individual awards ... including multiple state, regional and national "coach-of-the-year" honors. This includes the prestigious Eddie Robinson award, given to the best coach in all of DI football.

Accomplishments and Milestones (YSU only):

4 NCAA I-AA National Titles
6 I-AA Championship Games
32 All-Americans
10 Play-off Appearances
15 Coach-of-the-Year Awards
25-6 Play-off Mark (record 14-straight post-season wins)
First win: 10/11/86 (Tennessee Tech)
First Play-off win: 11/25/89 (Eastern Kentucky)
First Championship win: 12/21/91 (Marshall)
100th Career win: 10/4/97 (Indiana State)

As most fans know, coach Tressel was selected the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2000. In that capacity, he has proven that he can be a winner at any level. In 2002, coach Tressel led his Buckeyes to their first 13+ win season, with a perfect 14-0 mark and the national championship. This makes coach Tressel the only head coach to win a national championship in both the IA & IAA level. Coach Tressel took his championship earnings from OSU and donated it (over $200k) to the building of a new student recreation center on the Youngstown State University campus. Once a Penguin ... always a Penguin. Our congratulations and hopes for continued success in your career coach.