Both the Ohio House and Senate approved former Youngstown State University President and football coach Jim Tressel for the position of Lieutenant Governor.

The Senate voted 31-1 in favor of confirming Jim Tressel as the next Lieutenant Governor of Ohio. The dissenting vote came from Democratic Senator Beth Liston of Dublin.

During the hearing Republican Ohio Senator Rob McColley of Napoleon, Ohio noted Tressel's accolades noting his time as Ohio State football coach, as well as his legacy here in the Mahoning Valley as YSU football coach and later university president.

"One of the most impressive things I've seen from going up [to Youngstown] is how highly he is respected in Youngstown. Seemingly you can't go into a restaurant without some sort of photo or mural of Jim Tressel on the wall indicating their great respect for the man to this day and what he has done for the region," Senator McColley said.

Valley Senator Al Cutrona also spoke in Tressel's favor during the hearing.

"He has won the respect of the Valley because of his remarkable achievements [and] his ability for the last decade to transform the Valley [and] to do so much in that community. I've seen it with my own eyes. I've worked with him, I've seen his attempts on higher education and be successful with it. I've seen my alma mater change just before my eyes with his involvement there. He has placed us in a much better place in his role as president," Cutrona said.

Cutrona went on to say he believes Tressel will bring that same work ethic to the position of Lieutenant Governor.

Following the approval from both the House and Senate, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine posted on X, formerly Twitter congratulating Tressel.

"[Tressel] brings a wealth of knowledge to the position and will serve Ohio with distinction," DeWine said.

Tressel was nominated by Governor DeWine to fill the remainder of former Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted's term after he was appointed to fill J.D. Vance's seat in the U.S. Senate once Vance assumed the position of Vice President.

During a press conference held earlier in the week, DeWine said he had several candidates in mind to fill Husted's shoes, but ultimately decided on Tressel nothing his experience with education and economic development in the Mahoning Valley.

You can read much more about Tressel's nomination and the Valley's reaction to it in our related coverage below.

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