Ohio State: Tressel is perfect candidate to be next OSU president

Ohio State president Michael V. Drake will retire at the end of this current school year. A former Buckeye football coach could be a great candidate to replace him.

The Columbus Dispatch reported yesterday that The Ohio State University president Michael V. Drake will retire at the end of the 2019-2020 school year. Drake has led the university since June 2014.

President Drake’s tenure has been a successful one. According to The Columbus Dispatch, the school broke its records for graduation and retention rates, academic talent and diversity among incoming classes, research expenditures and annual fundraising.

Drake, the 15th president of The Ohio State University, is proud of the tremendous success the university has achieved during his tenure. This is what he said to the Dispatch.

"“I’m really proud of the position that the Ohio State University has achieved nationally in these years,” Drake said. “I’m proud of it and I’m also humbled by the incredible work of the entire team — our students, our faculty, our staff — the people who make all these things happen.”"

The university will conduct a national search for its next president. As President Drake comes down the final stretch of his time as president, he said this to the Dispatch.

"“If I’m running a lap, I want to make sure when we pass off the baton that we have the biggest possible lead,” he said. “We’re running all the time to make that happen.”"

I think the next president of The Ohio State University is just 175 miles northeast of Columbus in Youngstown, Ohio. That man would be the current Youngstown State University president and former Ohio State football head coach, Jim Tressel.

Tressel became the ninth president of Youngstown State University in 2014. Similar to his success on the gridiron for the Buckeyes, Tressel’s leadership has resulted in increasing enrollment, student retention and graduation rates, as well as achieving fundraising goals, according to the school’s official site.

Prior to the start of his tenure as president of Youngstown State, Tressel served as the Vice President of Strategic Engagement for the University of Akron. Before arriving in Akron, Tressel was the head coach of the Buckeyes from 2001-2010.

The Buckeyes competed for three national championships under Tressel including the 2002 National Championship win against the Miami Hurricanes. In 2015, He was inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame as well as the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame.

As we sincerely thank President Drake for his service as president, we would gladly welcome back with open arms Jim Tressel and his famous sweater vest to be the 16th president of The Ohio State University.