Jim Tressel Ring of Honor
Former Ohio State Football Coach Jim Tressel Enters School Ring of Honor
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Key Points
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Tressel’s plaque was unveiled beside Woody Hayes’ in Ohio Stadium, and he became only the third coach—joining Hayes and Paul Brown—to receive the honor. He was also the first addition to the Ring of Honor since quarterback Troy Smith in 2014.
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The 2002 championship team finished 14-0, becoming the first major-college football team to do so since Penn went 15-0 in 1897; Ohio State also reached two other BCS National Championship Games under Tressel.
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The “Tattoogate” scandal involved players trading memorabilia for tattoos and cash, and Tressel resigned after failing to report the violations. The fallout included a 2012 postseason ban for Ohio State; interim coach Luke Fickell’s 2011 team went 6-7, the program’s only losing season since 1988.
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Tressel’s ties to Ohio State continued after his coaching tenure: he served as Youngstown State’s president from 2014 to 2023, and the 2002 team’s 2012 recognition ceremony featured fans giving him a standing ovation while former players carried him on their shoulders.
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During the ceremony, the university unveiled the permanent signage beneath a cover styled after Tressel’s trademark sweater vest. Tressel said, “This recognition, it’s about these young men,” and thanked the coaches, fans, marching band and broader Ohio State community.
Jim Tressel entered Ohio State's Ring of Honor on September 5, 2026, joining an elite group of legendary coaches honored at Ohio Stadium. The former Buckeyes head coach, who compiled a 106-22 record and won the 2002 national championship during his 10-year tenure, received the recognition during Ohio State's season-opening victory over Ball State. Dispatch reported that Tressel became only the third coach to earn the honor, alongside Woody Hayes and Paul Brown, and the first addition since quarterback Troy Smith in 2014.
Now serving as Ohio's lieutenant governor, Tressel deflected praise during the ceremony, saying the recognition belonged to his former players, coaches, fans, and the Ohio State community. 247Sports noted that the university unveiled permanent signage beneath a cover styled after Tressel's trademark sweater vest, cementing his legacy at the program despite the controversy that ended his tenure.
A Dynasty Built on Dominance and One Perfect Season
Tressel's tenure from 2001 to 2011 transformed Ohio State into a national powerhouse. His teams won six Big Ten championships and went 9-1 against Michigan, establishing dominance in college football's fiercest rivalry. Yahoo Sports highlighted that the 2002 championship team finished 14-0, becoming the first major-college football team to go undefeated since Penn went 15-0 in 1897. Under Tressel, Ohio State reached three BCS National Championship Games, with only one resulting in a national title.
The Scandal That Cut Short a Historic Tenure
Tressel's legacy was complicated by the 'Tattoogate' scandal, which involved players trading memorabilia for tattoos and cash. Cincinnati.com reported that Tressel resigned in 2011 after failing to report the NCAA violations, leading to a 2012 postseason ban for Ohio State. The fallout devastated the program: interim coach Luke Fickell's 2011 team finished 6-7, marking the program's only losing season since 1988.
A Redemptive Return to the Scarlet and Gray
Despite his controversial exit, Tressel maintained deep ties to Ohio State. Dispatch reported that at a 2012 recognition ceremony for the 2002 championship team, fans gave Tressel a standing ovation while former players carried him on their shoulders. After leaving coaching, Tressel served as Youngstown State's president from 2014 to 2023, staying connected to college athletics while rebuilding his reputation. His induction into the Ring of Honor signals Ohio State's acknowledgment that his 10 years of winning far outweigh the scandal that ended his time in Columbus.
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