A Cleveland television station has hired former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel as a special contributor.
Tressel, who stepped down after 10 seasons as Buckeyes coach in May 2011 following the Tattoogate scandal, will provide a weekly report, “A Moment with Jim Tressel,” during WKYC-TV’s 7 p.m. Wednesday newscasts, The Plain Dealer reported Tuesday in Cleveland.
“Jim’s national championships as head football coach at Ohio State and Youngstown State universities are well known to all, but his motivational speeches and best-selling books will be the basis of our ‘A Moment with Jim Tressel,’ ” said Brooke Spectorsky, the Gannett-owned station’s president and general manager.
Tressel, 59, led the Buckeyes to the national championship in 2002. He worked with the Indianapolis Colts last fall before taking a job created for him in February at the University of Akron as vice president of strategic engagement.
“Jim motivates with passion but leads with compassion,” said Virgil Dominic, the station’s interim news director. “We envision a weekly segment that takes daily news stories and makes them teachable moments.”
Tressel’s bosses at Akron apparently have no problem with his TV gig. In fact, they seem to think it might help attract students.
“Jim is a truly exceptional leader,” university president Luis Proenza said, according to The Plain Dealer. “We think his weekly television segments will only add to to his community outreach and help grow the Akron experience.”
