Jim Tressel, head coach of The Ohio State University football program, has resigned, the school said in a press release.
“After meeting with University officials, we agreed that it is in the best interest of Ohio State that I resign as head football coach," Tressel said in a statement.
Assistant coach Luke Fickell will serve as interim coach next season, the school said. The search for a new head coach won't begin until after the 2011-2012 season ends.
The school fined Tressel $250,000 in March and suspended him after learning he failed to acknowledge that some of his players may have violated NCAA rules.
SI.com: Tressel tries to take brunt of NCAA wrath with resignation
“In consultation with the senior leadership of the Board of Trustees, I have been actively reviewing matters attendant to our football program, and I have accepted Coach Tressel’s resignation,” President E. Gordon Gee said in a statement. “The University’s enduring public purposes and its tradition of excellence continue to guide our actions.”
Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith said the school had been investigating Tressel since January.
"Obviously I'm disappointed that this happened at all," Tressel said in a press conference in March. "I take responsibility for what we do at Ohio State tremendously seriously ... and obviously I plan to grow from this. I'm sincerely saddened by the fact that I let some people down, and that I didn't do some things as well as I could possibly do."
Smith on Monday said he was looking forward to a new chapter in Buckeye history.
“We look forward to refocusing the football program on doing what we do best – representing this extraordinary university and its values on the field, in the classroom, and in life,” he said. “We look forward to supporting Luke Fickell in his role as our football coach. We have full confidence in his ability to lead our football program.”
SI.com’s Stewart Mandel said after Tressel’s fine that it would be hard to imagine Ohio State firing a coach who boasts a national championship and seven Big Ten titles in 10 years.
But as is the case with most big-time college football coaches, Tressel's contract includes a clause stating he could be terminated for failing to speedily report NCAA violations.
Under Tressel’s leadership, Ohio State won a national championship in 2003 and played two other national title games. The team has had at least a share of the Big Ten title in all of the past six seasons. The Buckeyes finished last season with a 12-1 record and a Sugar Bowl victory.
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The BCS and NCAA make boatloads of cash off of college student performances with absolutely no recompense. This story should be more about the hypocritical guidelines maintained by college sports authorities, and how a coach got burned for trying to shield his players from an outdated and entirely unfair system. Professional sports is dying under the weight of greed, and it seems college sports are destined to head the same way.
Largonaut- I agree that many of the rules in college sports are absolutely ridiculous, but the players and coaches know what the rules are. They don't get decide which rules they are going to follow, and which ones they can just disregard. When you decide to participate, you agree to abide by all of the rules. I would like to see the rules changed. I would like to see the players paid a stipend, but lets face it, it simply isn't true that the players aren't compensated. Have you looked into the cost of an educations at a Big Ten University? Many of these kids are getting a chance at an education that iswell out of reach for a large majority of the population.
I cannot believe the board pushed tressel into resigning! OSU football sucked before tressel came to town and he was the best coach they had since woody! I will always be on #teamtressel
I can't believe you people. He is a cheat and a liar. he mislead everyone and he was lying about his cheating well before ohio state. he is bum and a jack-off. he should be booted and the punishment should follow him
It came out in the news it was a two bit tatoo shop under was under investigation for drugs.
Yes then players sold memorabilia for money.
Then players and coach are associative to Federal investigation.
Then animosity (stand down Michigan, it could of happen just as easily to you) set in on Tressel, because "like a father watching over his sons", he realized his players were getting close to trouble.
This to me isn't "obstruction of justice", just because our state carries tenure and august records for OSU.
No I don't buy this guilt by association "bull", because someone important was involved in an investigation, and wasn't the one being investigated.
Yes Tressel incurred legal expenses, at the hand of the societal dirt.
The sad part...it happened, probably calculated, and another unknowing college will get hit, in a repeat of history.
@Jeff you're kidding right? He flat out lied. He knew his players were violating NCAA rules and lied to the University and lied to the NCAA. This isn't someone who was caught in a maelstrom of shady street agents and greedy parents. This guy flat out knew his players were doing something they weren't supposed to and then lied when he was asked if he knew of any violations.
Uhhh...you people DO know what "class act" MEANS, right?
How sad that Tressel resigned. I am against colleges giving football players gifts for being a good athlete on a winning team (tournaments). Does a student receive a gift for being a valedictorian, a high honor? and other examples like these, whether sports or student? Is a college championship "ring" or a "shirt", apparently such a valuable piece of "material" per NCAA rules worthy over any highly "regarded" coach being fired or who have resigned? Is there really a difference between colleges giving an athlete a "gift" and a dealer or businessman giving an athlete one too which is against NCAA rules? Mr. Tressel, I do not blame you for resigning which I know had to be a very hard decision for you to make for I know you loved your job and cared about your athletes. Good Luck and God Bless!
My prediction, Tressal to Missouri. Pinkel to Ohio St.
first and foremost of all-I never did like Jim Tressel,now after all his shenanigans he will be forever erased from the minds of people from Ohio
What did Jim Tressel profit?
Have you ever played Monopoly? What happens when you pass GO? That's right. You get $200. Everyone knows the rule to that game and can follow the rules. Why can't the OSU players follow the rules in the game that they're playing????? It's not that hard to do the right thing, if you put the team first.
USC got in big trouble for one player getting favors, I will bet that the NCAA will do nothing in this case. Enforcement of NCAA rules seem to be very selective.
every one in sports get caught up one way or another,yes it was wrong,but Jim Tressels was & still is 1 of my favorite Ohio St. Coches of all times hpe we hve as much success wit a new coach I seen sum I of da best Buckeye plays of my life as a fan & I'm only 33yrs of age. Shots out 2 Jim& the Tressels family my prayers are wit you all...
Your telling me he lied that outragous. i bet you any money he told gene smith and that piece of sh&*. Gene Smith covered it up to; he is a money hungery. Its all about politics dont worry gene smith will be the next to resign. u wait and see.
ESPN Commentators make me sick.Who are they to crucify Tressel.These self righteous jerks are probably into worse sins than Trussel when nobody's looking.I am not justifying what trussel did.I am just saying stop playin God.Isn't the embarrassment of it all enough.What does Koby and Noah have to do with Tressel.Dont worry you self righteous jerk tressel didn't Gay bash anyone.You are reaching trying to defame tressels name for some stupid reason.Get over yourself and Get over This Gay issue which has nothing to do with Trussel.You must have some Phobia with straight men.
Tressel was fully aware of everything that had been going on. He's a hypocrite and also a scapegoat because there is no way the AD, the university president, and who knows how many staff members were unaware of all of this.
Leave tressler alone.