Jim and Ellen Tressel to be honored by Youngstown State Penguin Club

The Youngstown State Penguin Club will honor Ellen and Jim Tressel as the Penguins of the Year at Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center in Boardman on Feb. 29.

Ellen Tressel has spent time giving back to the community while serving on numerous boards and service organizations ranging from the James Cancer Hospital Foundation board, Akron Children’s Hospital Foundation board, the Home Savings and Loan Board, COSI in Columbus, Ohio, just to name a few.

Ellen continues to remain involved with YSU and the community. She is co-chairing, with Jim Tressel, the campaign for the Zoldan Family Student Center, and remains a member of the Beatitude House board and the Mahoning Valley Historical Society board.

Jim Tressel recently retired after serving nine years as the Youngstown State University president. He became the ninth president of Youngstown State University in 2014 and moved the campus forward on many fronts during his tenure.

Under President Tressel’s leadership, enrollment increased, the academic quality of freshmen classes moved upward, student retention went up and the university solidly focused on student success - graduating on time, with little or no debt and with a job. In addition, the university hit record fund-raising levels, kept the lid on tuition costs, expanded scholarship opportunities and increased both university and private housing options across campus.

Prior to becoming YSU president, Tressel was executive vice president for Student Success at the University of Akron, head football coach at The Ohio State University (winning the national championship in 2002) and head football coach and executive director of Intercollegiate Athletics at YSU (winning four national championships).

Tressel spent 15 years as the head coach at Youngstown State and six as the Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics before being named the head football coach at The Ohio State University in January 2001.

At YSU, Tressel posted a record of 135-57-2 and led the program to Division I-AA National Championships in 1991, 1993, 1994 and 1997. He logged a winning percentage of .702 and reached the playoffs in 10 seasons. He won an impressive 24 playoff games and had seven 10-win seasons.