Jim Tressel, former Ohio State Football Coach, has been selected for the top administrative position at Youngstown State University. Tressel was also a finalist for the presidency at the University of Akron, where Scott Scarborough (former Toledo provost) was announced as president Thursday.
In a press release, YSU trustee chairman Sudershan Garg said that Tressel has "the personality and leadership skills, in addition to widespread community support, to dramatically raise YSU’s profile and prominence across Ohio and the nation.”
Tressel comes without a Ph.D (GASP!), and still lugs the baggage from an NCAA ouster, but name recognition and a knack for fundraising seem to be just what the cash-strapped YSU has been seeking. Tressel is certainly a sexier candidate than either Mary Cullinan , president of Southern Oregon University or Gary Miller, chancellor of the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, the two other finalists.
In a story about Tressel's qualifications in the YSU student newspaper, the Vindicator, University of Akron Faculty Union presdent Stephen Weeks wasn't shy about his disapproval of Tressel:
“Of the people I know, no one is really backing him,” Weeks told the Vindicator. “From what I hear, he was a very good coach, but it’s not the same as running a university — which is a $400 million institution. It seems that people who are really into sports think he’s a really good guy.”
Killer jab, Weeks!
In other news, Tressel has no desire or expectation to return to the football field in the foreseeable future.
