UPDATE | YSU President Jim Tressel announces resignation

Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel on Wednesday announced he intends to resign from his position in February 2023.

Tressel, 69, delivered the news in a universitywide email sent after the university’s Wednesday afternoon board of trustees meeting.

“It has been truly a blessing and labor of love to serve Youngstown State University,” Tressel is quoted in a Wednesday news release from YSU.

“I cannot thank my family enough for allowing my schedule, and the needs of our university, to take priority and center stage,” he said. “It is now only fair to have Ellen, our wonderful children and grandchildren, extended family, friends and former students, set the schedule.”

Tressel became YSU’s ninth president in 2014.

During a media briefing Thursday at the university, Tressel didn’t offer any new details on his future plans, but suggested he would like to continue to support the university in some fashion.

“We have a Board of Trustees that will have a new administration and how I can be helpful to that group will be decided, but I will have a little more free time than I’m used to,” he said.

Board Chair John Jakubek said the university expects to release more details on the search for Tressel’s successor “as they become available.”

“The YSU Board of Trustees extends our deepest gratitude and appreciation to President Tressel and First Lady Ellen for their decades of service to Youngstown State University, the Mahoning Valley region and the entire state of Ohio,” Jakubek is quoted in the release. “The Tressels’ contributions of time and treasure are immeasurable and will be felt across the region for years and years to come. We wish them well.”

Gov. Mike DeWine in a statement Thursday praised Tressel for his contributions to the region.

“Jim Tressel is often referred to as a champion, and he has embodied that term in his leadership as President of Youngstown State University,” DeWine is quoted in a release. “Not only has he championed the cause of YSU, but he has been a champion for the Mahoning Valley, a champion for investing in Ohio’s workforce and furthering economic development through university partnerships, and a champion for higher education across Ohio. Youngstown State has always been an important asset to the Mahoning Valley, and President’s Tressel’s work during his tenure has only solidified its importance.”

Tressel said he is proud of the university’s “dramatic successes” in raising YSU’s number of graduates and its graduation rates as well as the campus’ “physical transformation.”

“These are extremely challenging times in higher education and in our world as a whole; however, the opportunities are many, and together we will continue to make great things happen,” he is quoted in the release.

Tressel on Thursday emphasized the relevant roles the university has played in workforce development, and expressed hope for its educational future.

“I heard from a meeting the other day that 19 percent of all freight in this country goes through Youngstown, Ohio. So our role is to do whatever we have to do from workforce training, research and commercialization, because Youngstown State is so important for this region,” he said Thursday.

Tressel first came to YSU in 1986 as its head football coach, taking the university to four national championships in 15 years, according to the release. Tressel then became Ohio State University’s head football coach, leading the team to seven Big Ten championships and the 2002 national championship.

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[Editor’s note: The previous headline for this article stated that President Jim Tressel was leaving YSU. In a media briefing Thursday, Tressel did not elaborate on his future plans.]

This story was originally published June 22, 2022 at 8:49 PM.