- Advertisement -
  • Most Commentedmost commented up
  • Most Emailedmost emailed up
  • Popularmost popular up
- Advertisement -

« News Home

UPDATE: 'I am excited to be a Zip,' Tressel says

Published: Thu, February 2, 2012 @ 10:36 a.m.

AKRON — “I am excited to be a Zip,” former Ohio State University football coach Jim Tressel told members of the news media today as the University of Akron today named him to a vice president’s position.

According to the Akron beacon Journal, Tressel will be in charge of “strategic engagement” for the university and will be paid a base salary of $200,000.

The newspaper reported Tressel played a key role in the search for a football coach that led to the hiring of Terry Bowden and since then has remained in touch with university officials, said UA President Luis Proenza.

It was after those discussions, Proenza said, that he began talking to Tressel about returning to UA.

Tressel, who earned his master’s degree in education at UA and was once part of the Zips football coaching staff, said it is nice to come home.

He said met with UA students before the press conference.

“It is great to come back to the place that gave me my first chance,” he said.

Tressel, according to media reports in Columbus, sold his Upper Arlington home recently. He recently was under consideration for a coaching position with the Indianapolis Colts.


1300(538 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago

This isn't a football position. How does someone with a Master of Education, a joke degree to begin with, get named a university VP?

He gets paid 200K, walks into a made-up position, and he has no academic graduate degree.

If this is Akron trying to demonstrate that it's not a community college, a la YSU, and that it wants to be taken seriously, this is not the way to go.

Suggest removal:

2Mooneygrad72(42 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago

Wait a minute 300 Since when is a Master's degree a joke?? and how did YSU become a community college??

My Masters ( I have 2) took much time, lots of hard work, extreme projects, but it made me a better teacher and community member. YSU is a great place !! A community college is a 2 year school deemed as a "tech school" not a university.

Makes one wonder about your educational level and expertise.

Suggest removal:

3Bman(151 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago

Good luck Coach.

A Master's degree is a graduate degree...btw, what does that matter if he is in administration anyway? He's not teaching. Just Tres being in your program will generate money and attention and eventually better athletes who want to play for UA.

Suggest removal:

4300(538 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago

Bman, his isn't an academic degree graduate degree. I'm not interested in explaining the university system and how it works, but this kind of hire is very rare, and at any worthwhile research university this would be considered a black eye.

Mooneygrad, it's a fine degree for school teachers, but not at the university level. I'm ot denigrating it, and I'm sure you are a better teacher now. Within a university, however, these "Ed" degrees aren't very valuable outside the community college level or by those working in the Diversity/Student Life/whatever other office they made up to hire the wives of professors. And, YSU is more of a community college than a research one. It serves a purpose in the valley, but it's not at Kent's level, much less OSU, Cincy, or Miami. Take a look at what's accredited at YSU. I think people would be surprised to find out that what's thought of as quality there, isn't valued anywhere else.

You don't really need to wonder too much about my own educational level, it's pretty much spelled out in my post.

Suggest removal:

5arod(257 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago

Wish YSU could have snagged him up, would have "taught" coach W a thing or two about YSU football.

Suggest removal:

6theguins(152 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago

Lie to the NCAA and get a $200,000.00 reward. How nice is that?

Suggest removal:

7jasoninohio(119 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago

Tressel will make the university that $200k back ten fold. He is a great teacher and a great leader. It was sad that he had to leave Ohio State in the way he did, but I am glad to see he is back at the collegiate level.

Suggest removal:

8Tigerlily(472 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago

Tressel is happy to be whatever, as long as it pays.

Suggest removal:

9Owlguin(49 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago

I just want him to write a book. I just can't wait to read it.

Suggest removal:

10LRG5150(16 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago

Yes, taking a position for $200K is quite a reward after being forced out of a $3.2+M job.

I'll never understand the disdain for this man that many in this valley have, especially after what he did and continues to do for the university and community.

Suggest removal:

11walter_sobchak(1703 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago

Well, I gotta believe that Jim Tressel's Masters in Education is worth about $200,000 per year for someone with his experience and expertise. UA knew excatly what they were doing with his hiring and they will profit mightily from it as I'm sure it will have something to do with fund-raising. I'm sure YSU would have loved to have him but it would not be possible as he would be breathing down Wolford's neck.

Suggest removal:

12fattynskinny(193 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago

best of luck coach and god bless you and your family

Suggest removal:

13theguins(152 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago


Forced out? The guy covered up and lied to the University and the NCAA. Never really cared for him at YSU. Yes it is a reward...

Suggest removal:

14jimmyd123(195 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago


Suggest removal:

15leftyompton4life(79 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago

OMG tattoos were given away for free...the horror, the horror!!!!!!

Get a life people. No one cares you got Master's Degrees. Let Tressel be Tressel and hope to see him again on the sidelines one day. He's done more for Youngstown, OSU, and the state of Ohio then you can ever wish to do yourselves.

Suggest removal:

16DOLE2(594 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago

I dont feel sorry for a millionaire who broke the rules! Stay in Akron TRess, I dont give a S**T

Suggest removal:

17pwhite1027(101 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago

Fair and equal: agree with you about college costs being crazy. That's what happens when u are spending other's money.

However, I think Jim Tressel would be an asset to ANY COLLEGE or any other business for that matter.

He could work wherever he wants.

Too bad YSU couldn't take advantage of this by bringing him home where he would be a HUGE benefit to our community.

Football coach probably would be too intimidated by him.

Because Jim has unmatched integrity, I'm sure he'll continue to help YSU when he can pro bono.

Good luck Jim. You are great and I'm sure Akron will benefit from you.

Suggest removal:

18ROBERT(137 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago

For those who continue to hate Tressel for all that he did for YSU, Sandusky is still available!

Suggest removal:

19mrblue(921 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago

This guy gets way too much press!! On the other hand, I would not be surprised if in a few years, he was their head coach.

Suggest removal:

20Bman(151 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago

Tressel and Terry Bowden working for the same institution? This will be instant financial success for UA.

My knowledge of higher education is just fine, but thanks for the offer of "explaining the university system and how it works." A Master degree in Education, even if it is a terminal Masters, is still a graduate degree. Most 1st tier research insitutions would probably pass on Tressel because they don't need him and cannot afford him anyway. UA is a perfect fit for him, right now.

Suggest removal:

21jimmyd123(195 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago



So the man got a new job from a friend. Happens every day..

Suggest removal:

22misterlee(118 comments)posted 2 years, 1 month ago

YSU is a research university. You obviously haven't looked at the STEM college. As an undergrad Biology student I have had the opportunity to work with grad students and professors on several research projects, including one I'm working on by myself now to present at QUEST, a yearly event to showcase student research work, it's on April 3rd this year, you should stop by. You have made it clear that you know nothing about academia despite your claims otherwise, stop denigrating our university, it's a lot better than you think.

Suggest removal:


HomeTerms of UsePrivacy StatementAdvertiseStaff DirectoryHelp
107 Vindicator Square. Youngstown, OH 44503
