YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel says he's humbled by the opportunity to be president of Youngstown State University.
Trustees voted Friday to offer Tressel the position. He was one of three finalists at the northeastern Ohio school where he started his college coaching career.
Youngstown State spokesman Ron Cole says a contract is being negotiated.
Tressel said in a written statement that he's honored to accept the board's offer and looks forward to building on the university's success.
Tressel recently was a finalist for but was not chosen to be president at the University of Akron. He has been an administrator there for two years after being forced out at Ohio State following a scandal in which players sold memorabilia for cash and tattoos.
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"After fully examining each and every candidate and reviewing the input from hundreds of individuals across the campus and the community, the Board of Trustees believes Mr. Tressel is the right individual at the right time to lead Youngstown State University," board chairman Sudershan Garg said in a statement. "Mr. 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 recently was a finalist for but was not chosen to be president at the University of Akron, where he currently is executive vice president for student success. He went to Akron after being forced out at Ohio State following a scandal in which players sold memorabilia for cash and tattoos, leading to an investigation that resulted in sanctions against the team and Tressel.
While making his pitch for the president's job to faculty, staff and students at Youngstown State, he told reporters he was not planning to return to coaching and would accept his next position with the understanding that it would be long-term.
The faculty union at Youngstown State supported his bid to be president. The 13,500-student school launched its search for a new leader after President Randy Dunn accepted a job leading the Southern Illinois University system.
Tressel received a bachelor's degree in education from Baldwin-Wallace College in 1975 and a master's degree in education from the University of Akron in 1977.