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Jan. 18, 2001
Football: Tressel Named Ohio State Football Head
Coach
Columbus, Ohio - Jim Tressel, who led Youngstown
State University to four national
titles, is Ohio State's new head
football coach. Tressel's
appointment as the 22nd head coach
in Ohio State history was announced
today by Andy Geiger, Ohio State
Director of Athletics.
"I am very proud to name Jim Tressel as our new head football
coach," Geiger said. "There were
never any doubts with the X's and
O's - the football side of it was
not an issue. What really sold me
was Jim Tressel the person and what
he brings to the table in other
areas. I really listened to the
people in the Youngstown area about
what he has meant to the university
and the community. He is a proven
winner, disciplinarian and cares
deeply about his players. He is as
fine a person as I've seen in 40
years in athletics. He is the person
who can take our football program to
the next level."
Tressel's appointment concludes a search that began Jan. 2,
when Geiger announced John Cooper
would not be retained as the OSU
head coach.
"It is with tremendous excitement and humility that I accept
the challenge and responsibility as
the head football coach at The Ohio
State University," Tressel said.
"While touring campus this week,
three words constantly appeared:
tradition, people and excellence.
Our task will be to uphold and build
upon the storied past of Ohio State
football, while developing each
individual to reach his full
potential on and off the field. This
must all be done within the
framework of the team, as we seek
the standard of excellence of our
great state and institution."
Geiger offered the job Wednesday afternoon and Tressel
accepted. They agreed to a five-year
contract at a base salary of
$700,000, plus a $100,000 signing
bonus. The salary includes annual
increments of $100,000.
Few college head coaches have accomplished what Tressel has
in 15 seasons at Youngstown State.
Including the four national titles
in 1991, 1993, 1994 and 1997, YSU
appeared in a total of six
championship games. Tressel also
recorded 12 winning seasons and 10
playoff appearances. Last year, YSU
finished with a 9-3 record and a
berth in the NCAA I-AA playoffs.
The 1999 campaign was the fifth time in 15 seasons his teams
won 12 or more games. It was the
Penguins' sixth trip to the finals
in the last 10 seasons. Named head
coach in 1986, Tressel has a career
mark of 135-57-2 in 15 seasons.
His 135 career wins are the second most in school history
behind Dwight "Dike" Beede's 147
victories.
Over the past two years, Tressel has been instrumental in the
Penguins achieving accolades in the
classroom. The YSU football program
had an amazing 67 players earn a 3.0
grade-point average or higher,
including 28 following the 2000 fall
semester, the last two years. |
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