Former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel among four to receive OHSAA honor
Frank DiRenna
DAYTON – Former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel was one of four people honored by the Ohio High School Athletic Association on Saturday for their contributions to athletics in the state.
Tressel, Pro Football Hall of Fame member Dick LeBeau, former basketball player and coach Caroline Mast Daugherty and MLB umpire Jerry Layne were recognized during the Circle of Champions ceremony at halftime of the Division I boys basketball state semifinal between Delaware Hayes and Cleveland St. Ignatius.
“This is quite an honor, (especially) when you think about the state of Ohio and how important high school athletics are,” Tressel told The Dispatch. “When you look at these towns, the whole towns are here at the state championships. One of the highlights of the year is being here this weekend and it’s an honor to join this group.”
A native of Mentor, Tressel graduated from Berea High School and played quarterback under his father, Lee, at Baldwin-Wallace College before embarking on a coaching career.
After serving as an assistant at four colleges, Tressel was the head coach at Youngstown State from 1986-2000, leading the Penguins to four NCAA Division I-AA national championships. He then coached Ohio State for 10 years, winning the national title in 2002, and was president of Youngstown State from 2014-23.
A native of London, Ohio, LeBeau was a member of the 1957 Ohio State national championship team, playing halfback and cornerback. His 59-year career in the NFL includes playing 14 years with Detroit and coaching for 45 years with seven teams, including as head coach of Cincinnati from 2000-02.
Mast Daugherty played on and coached teams at Warsaw River View that won girls basketball state championships. She also played at Ohio University.
A graduate of Marion Elgin, Layne is MLB’s longest tenured umpire. He has worked in the league since 1989.