After the University of Akron introduced Jim Tressel to the newly created position of vice president of strategic engagement, questions arose about whether he would have some involvement in the Zips’ athletic department.
Academic administration is a definite departure for the man best known for prowling the sidelines of Ohio Stadium as the coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes football program and making the sweater vest the essential part of any Columbus football fan’s wardrobe.
But Thursday, after UA President Luis Proenza introduced him, he continued to express how dedicated he planned to be in his new position, despite more than three decades in coaching.
“Dr. Proenza and I had talked from the outset that my interest was to broaden myself beyond athletics. That’s not saying anything demeaning about athletics,” Tressel said during the press conference. “Athletics in my mind is a central part of communities and institutions and so forth. But I really have a passion to transfer my skill sets to some areas beyond that.”
That might be the case, but as valuable as Tressel could be in that realm, he still possesses cachet and engenders good will in his former profession. But will he get to use any of it in the athletics department?
As a coach? No. In other ways, possibly.
“I’m sure at some point we can talk about how he can assist in fundraising efforts,” UA Athletic Director Tom Wistrcill said. “That would be great, but as of right now, he’ll have no direct duties with athletics.”
Proenza agreed.
“We’re still working that out, but he has great respect for Terry Bowden. He doesn’t want to interfere in anything,” Proenza said. “We’ll clear that up and if it’s the right kind of moment, that’s fine.”
The reality of Tressel’s current situation lies in the fact that he and Proenza developed a mutual respect while the former OSU coach consulted during UA’s football coaching search that brought Bowden to the school. It’s difficult to see how with him now officially a Zip that they wouldn’t take advantage of everything he can offer the university — including in athletics.
If anyone is worried about how Bowden feels with respect to Tressel’s hiring, they shouldn’t.
“I think it’s an incredible asset to have him here,” Bowden said. “I’ve been around the state enough to understand how he’s loved and appreciated all over Ohio and the value he brings to the university because of those relationships.”
Slapped with a five-year show-cause penalty by the NCAA that would force any university to show why they should be able to hire Tressel, it would only go into effect if a college tried to hire him as an athletic director or coach. As Tressel put it — he wouldn’t have involvement in the athletic department’s day-to-day activities.
But he’d prove invaluable to the department not only in fundraising, but also in recruiting and as a paid member of the UA staff, recruits could talk to him, Bowden said.
“As a staff member on campus, if he’s able to talk to recruits on campus, I can’t imagine how that couldn’t be anything but be an incredible plus as well,” Bowden said.
It can go beyond that.
“I’m not going to impose on him and I’m sure he doesn’t want to impose on me, but anytime he would allow me to bounce ideas off him, it would be a wonderful asset for me — just like I do with my father and other people I respect in the business,” Bowden said.
Basketball coach Keith Dambrot said the name “Jim Tressel” spoke for itself.
“Anytime you get the opportunity to hire someone with his credentials and his background, that’s so well known in Ohio, you have to jump at [it] and that’s what our administration did,” Dambrot said. “I applaud it.”
George M. Thomas can be reached at gmthomas@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Zips blog at http://zips.ohio.com. Follow the Zips on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/GeorgeThomasABJ and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/sports.abj.
