Jim Tressel, DeWine's pick for Lt. governor, has been a 'champion' of LifeWise
Jim Tressel, DeWine's pick for Lt. governor, has been a 'champion' of LifeWise
Former Ohio State University football coach Jim Tressel, who Gov. Mike DeWine tapped to be Ohio lieutenant governor Monday, also has connections to LifeWise, the Hilliard-based program that teaches the Bible to public school students during school hours.
DeWine has nominated Tressel to replace Jon Husted, who DeWine appointed to fill now-Vice President JD Vance's seat last month. Tressel, a Mentor native, served as Youngstown State University's president from 2014 to 2023 in addition to his role as Buckeye football coach from 2001 to 2011.
LifeWise plans to name a room in its headquarters after Tressel. The program buses students off school property, often during an elective class period. It is privately funded and parent-permitted.
For Tressel to become Ohio's next lieutenant governor, a majority of lawmakers in the Ohio House and Senate must approve him.
Joel Penton, founder and CEO of LifeWise, said in a statement that LifeWise was "pleased" to learn Tressel was nominated and believes "he will be a tremendous asset to Buckeye families in that role."
"Coach Tressel has been a personal inspiration and encouragement to me for many years, including since the launch of LifeWise Academy," Penton said.
Room in new LifeWise HQ to be called 'Tressel Coaching Hall'
Last year, LifeWise purchased the former Aquatic Adventures building located by Interstate 270 off Cemetery Road in Hilliard for nearly $3 million, with plans for a renovated training facility named the Skestos Center to help power the organization's national ambitions for the future.
The building is scheduled for completion this spring.
More: LifeWise taking over Hilliard scuba facility as religious nonprofit sees rapid growth
The building will feature a "Tressel Coaching Hall," named in honor of the former OSU coach, to train LifeWise teachers from across the country. Penton is a former OSU defensive lineman and played under Tressel. Penton said he asked him if he would allow his name on the room for training.
"(Tressel has) been an encouragement and a champion to a degree," Penton said in 2024. "He's not super publicly tied to (LifeWise) but I asked him, I said, 'Can we honor you by putting your name on the training room,' and he said "Sure, but call it a coaching room.'"
Tressel also helped raise funds for LifeWise in 2023 and has spoken at LifeWise events.
What is LifeWise?
LifeWise, founded in 2018, is an an event-based nonprofit ministry with a mission to reach public school students. It offers Bible education during school hour that is off school property, privately funded and parent-permitted, often during an elective class period.
In the United States, school districts may offer the option of released time for religious instruction in compliance with the 1948 U.S. Supreme Court case, McCollum v. Board of Education and the 1952 decision, Zorach v. Clauson, The Dispatch previously reported.
More: Ohio school Bible program LifeWise raised $35 million, tripled profits last year
The curriculum promises to teach students the entire Bible in five years, according to the LifeWise website.
Governor signs bill requiring districts to allow religious release time
In January, DeWine signed into law a requirement that schools let students leave for off-site religious classes with their parents' approval. The change was added into the "Parents' Bill of Rights" during a flurry of last-minute lawmaking. The new law takes effect in less than three months.
The legislation comes after two central Ohio school districts, Worthington City and Westerville City school districts, rescinded their existing policies allowing religious release. Members of both school boards said that religious release was potentially disruptive and questioned whether the policy would add additional strain to the districts if it were scaled up by more programs.
Cbehrens@dispatch.com
@Colebehr_report
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