Tressel’s name has been tossed around as a potential contender well since last year. Backers include Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan, who aggressively recruited Tressel for the YSU job when then-president Randy Dunn left after just 8 months.
University spokesman Ron Cole says Tressel beat out two other candidates: the Chancellor of the University of North Carolina Wilmington and the president of Southern Oregon University. He adds the board took input from “hundreds” of individuals across YSU on the finalists.
“And came to the conclusion unanimously, that Mr. Tressel is the right individual at the right time, to lead Youngstown State," says Cole. "And we’re developing plans for him to potentially be on campus sometime next week, to make an appearance and meet with the media, and those sorts of things.”
Tressel was also a finalist for president at the University of Akron, which instead went to Scott Scarborough last night.
YSU officials are still working out a contract with Tressel, but Cole says he’s expected to start on or around July 1st.
Tressel’s previous job was at the University of Akron, where he served as an administrator since February 2012. He took the job after leaving his coaching job at OSU, following a scandal where athletes sold memorabilia for tattoos and money….which ultimately led to NCAA sanctions.
Cole says the university and Mahoning Valley communities support and welcome Tressel to the job.