Yes, Mike Tressel, UC defensive coordinator, is related to Ohio State legend Jim Tressel
When Marcus Freeman left the University of Cincinnati for the Notre Dame defensive coordinator job after the 2020 season, UC coach Luke Fickell replaced him a with a name many in Ohio know: Tressel.
But it wasn't Jim Tressel, the former head coach at Ohio State who led the Buckeyes to the 2002 BCS National Championship. It was his nephew, Mike.
Mike Tressel has helped lead the Bearcats to the 2021 College Football Playoff, where they faced Alabama on Dec. 31 in the 2021 Cotton Bowl.
The defense has been the Bearcats signature unit this season led by a pair of star defensive backs in Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner and Jim Thorpe Award winner Coby Bryant.
The move paid off for both Mike Tressel and Freeman, as the former Ohio State linebacker was named the head coach of Notre Dame earlier this month.
Did Mike Tressel play for his uncle Jim Tressel?
No.
Mike Tressel went to Cornell where he played defensive back and the only time he worked for uncle was as a graduate assistant coach from 2002-2003. Mike Tressel was apart of the national championship coaching staff at Ohio State.
Mike Tressel is a disciple of Mark Dantonio, former UC coach
This is the second stint with the Bearcats for Mike Tressel. After Mark Dantonio became the head coach of the Bearcats in 2004, Mike Tressel became the Bearcats linebacker and special teams coach.
When Dantonio left for Michigan State in 2007, Mike Tressel followed him. From 2007-2020, Mike Tressel coached in East Lansing, serving as a special teams, linebacker, safety and co-defensive coordinator positions with the Spartans.
After Dantonio retired, Mel Tucker kept Mike Tressel on staff for the 2020 season.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Jim Tressel has a nephew named Mike, the UC defensive coordinator
