The inaugural Fiesta Bowl football game was held in 1971 between Arizona State and Florida State with Arizona State winning 45-38. That same year Jim Tressel, who would make his 5th visit to the Fiesta Bowl in 2009, was graduating from Berea High School in Northeast Ohio.
Tressel was born in Mentor, Ohio and grew up with football a big part of his life. His father, Lee Tressel, was the football coach at Mentor High School, Massillon High School and Baldwin Wallace. Jim Tressel played quarterback at Baldwin Wallace College under his father’s direction and graduated cum laude in 1975 with a degree in education.
Tressel began his coaching career at the University of Akron as a graduate assistant coaching the quarterbacks, receivers and running backs. While at Akron he earned his master’s degree in Education. Tressel also held coaching positions at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Syracuse University and Youngstown State University before coming to the Ohio State University.
His football and education background have led him to be one of the most respected coaches in the history of The Ohio State (OSU) Buckeyes. While teaching his players about the game of football he also teaches them life lessons. According to OSU, “he emphasizes organization, planning and accountability as not just important in football, but as skills for life. He reminds his players that representing Ohio State is a privilege, an advantage that allows them to enhance the futures of themselves, their families and communities through education and enlightened concern.”
Jim Tressel is also active in the Ohio community as he and his wife, Ellen, are committed to a number of Ohio charitable organizations including: Alzheimer’s Association of Central Ohio, Columbus Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House and The Tressel Family Fund for Cancer Research at Ohio State’s James Cancer Hospital and Solove Institute. In 2009, the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society will be added to this list.
On May 21, 2009, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Ohio Buckeye Chapter will honor Jim Tressel for his continued involvement and leadership in the community at their 4th Annual Dinner of Champions Gala in Columbus. Funds raised at the gala will be used to support important programs and services as well as vital research to find the cause and cure for MS. Much of this important research is taking place in Ohio at the The Ohio State University, Cleveland Clinic, and Case Western Reserve University.
For information about how you can help honor this coaching legend and his selfless support of our community, visit the official Dinner of Champions website or call 800-667-7131.
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