Jim Tressel coached Ohio State football for ten years and left a legacy that still gets talked about in Columbus today. Now, more than fifteen years after he last walked the sideline, the university is giving him one of its highest honors.

Tressel, 73, will be inducted into the Ohio Stadium Ring of Honor before Ohio State's Week 1 game against Ball State on September 5, per SI. The Ohio Lieutenant Governor posted a short but honest reaction on X.

"Forever grateful," Tressel captioned a video featuring the highlights of his career as a player and as a coach.

That two-word response said a lot coming from a man who has spent years in the public eye but never chased the spotlight. Tressel has always let his work speak for itself. That is as true in politics as it was in football.

He took over as Ohio State's head coach in 2001 and won the national championship in his very first season in 2002. He ran the program for a decade and built one of the most consistent winning cultures in college football history.

His tenure ended with his resignation in 2011 following the Tattoo Gate scandal. Several Ohio State players had sold team memorabilia in exchange for discounted tattoos, and Tressel had known about the situation. He stepped down, and the chapter closed there.

But his overall body of work at Ohio State stood on its own. He also won four national titles at Youngstown State before he ever arrived in Columbus. His resumé as a coach was difficult to argue with.

Tressel will become the 12th person to be inducted into the Ohio Stadium Ring of Honor. He joins Paul Brown and Woody Hayes as the only other coaches to receive the honor.

How Tressel has spent his years since leaving coaching

After leaving the football world, Tressel returned to Youngstown State as university president from 2014 to 2023. He then moved into politics, accepting the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor in 2025 alongside Governor Mike DeWine.

"It's surreal," Tressel said, per SI. "I wanted to be a math teacher, but one thing led to another. Governor Dewine had an idea, and it has been a blessing."

Since taking up the role of a politician and local leader, Tressel has launched the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge. He has visited schools across Ohio, speaking to children about the importance of physical activity and healthy habits from a young age.

Do you think Jim Tressel deserves a spot in the Ohio Stadium Ring of Honor? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Farheen Fathima

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit