TicketsMike Tressel started his second stint at the University of Cincinnati in January 2021 as the Bearcats defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
In his first season back at UC, Tressel elevated the standards set on the defensive side of the ball the past several seasons as Cincinnati secured its first-ever 13-0 start, won the American Athletic Conference Championship and advanced to the College Football Playoff Semifinals at the Cotton Bowl.
Under Tressel's leadership, six Bearcats on the defensive side of the ball were selected in the 2022 NFL Draft - cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner (No. 4, New York Jets), safety Bryan Cook (No. 62, Kansas City Chiefs), defensive end Myjai Sanders (No. 100, Arizona Cardinals), linebacker Darrian Beavers (No. 182, New York Giants), cornerback Coby Bryant (No. 198, Seattle Seahawks) and defensive lineman Curtis Brooks (No. 216, Indianapolis Colts).
The Bearcats’ defense was outstanding, ranking fifth nationally in scoring defense (16.5) and No. 10 in total defense (318.4). The Bearcats also allowed only 4.5 yards per play to opponents, which was the fourth-fewest in the nation.
Cincinnati had the nation’s best pass defense, finishing No. 1 in the country in pass efficiency defense (103.37), No. 2 in passing yards allowed (169.2), No. 3 in interceptions (9) and No. 4 in opponent completion % (54.0).
Cincinnati also had 39 sacks, which ranked No. 2 in the AAC and No. 18 in the country.
Senior cornerback Coby Bryant was named the Jim Thorpe Award winner, while junior cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner earned unanimous AAC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Senior linebacker Darrian Beavers was one of six finalists for the Butkus Award – given to the nation’s top linebacker.
The Blackcats defense had nine of 11 starters capture All-AAC honors – led by Gardner and senior defensive end Myjai Sanders, who were both unanimous selections.
Joining Gardner and Sanders on the All-AAC First Team were Bryant, Beavers, senior defensive tackle Curtis Brooks, senior middle linebacker Joel Dublanko and senior safety Brian Cook. Sophomore linebacker Deshawn Pace and senior defensive tackle Marcus Brown also grabbed All-AAC honorable mention accolades.
Four Bearcats ranked in the AAC’s Top 10 in tackles, including Dublanko (113, second), Beavers (100, fifth), Pace (95, sixth) and Cook (93, eighth).
Tressel, who previously coached at UC from 2004-06 as special teams coordinator/linebackers coach, returned to the Clifton Heights campus after spending 14 seasons at Michigan State.
The 25-year coaching veteran was MSU’s linebackers coach from 2007-19 and also was the special teams coordinator his first eight seasons at MSU. Tressel was the co-defensive coordinator for two seasons (2016-17) and the sole defensive coordinator for two seasons (2018-19), in addition to being the assistant head coach in 2019 and coaching the safeties in 2020.
During his time at MSU, Tressel coached 20 players who earned 35 All-Big Ten Conference honors along with eight All-Americans and two major award winners. From 2007-19, the Spartans won Big Ten Conference Championships three times (2010, 2013, 2015) and played in 12 bowl games, including qualifying for the 2015 College Football Playoff. He was a nominee for the Broyles Award IN 2018, which honors the nation’s top assistant coach.
Spartans linebacker and Cincinnati native Greg Jones was a Consensus All-America selection in 2009 and 2010 and the 2009 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Defensive End Kenny Willekes was the 2018 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year and winner of the 2019 Burlsworth Trophy, given to the nation's most outstanding player that began his career as a walk-on.
Seven of his former linebackers have gone on to play in the NFL, including former Bearcats Jamar Enzor and Tyjuan Hagler.
Known for constructing some of the best defenses in the nation, Tressel helped coach the Spartans to final FBS Top 10 rankings in total and rushing defense on six occasions. MSU also ranked among college football’s top 10 in scoring defense four times and was the FBS leader in rushing defense in 2014 and 2018.
During Michigan State's Big Ten and Rose Bowl Championship season in 2013, the linebackers led the way for the only defense in the FBS to rank among the top three in rushing defense (No. 2 at 86.6 ypg.), total defense (No. 2 at 252.2 ypg.), scoring defense (No. 3 at 13.2 ppg.) and passing defense (No. 3 at 165.6 ypg.).
Tressel also oversaw a successful special teams unit from 2007-14 that was one of the best in the Big Ten under his direction. During his time as special teams coach, MSU had two first-team All-Big Ten placekickers (Dan Conroy and Brett Swenson), two first-team All-Big Ten punters (Mike Sadler and Aaron Bates), and featured conference leaders in kick returns (Devin Thomas), punt returns (Keshawn Martin), field goals (Swenson) and field-goal percentage (Swenson, Michael Geiger).
He arrived at Michigan State following the 2006 regular season, as he was one of eight assistants to follow Mark Dantonio to MSU from Cincinnati.
Tressel played a key role in Cincinnati's success over his three seasons (2003-06), as the Bearcats earned two bowl invitations. During the 2006 regular season, UC ranked among the national leaders in rushing defense (No. 27 at 107.5 yards per game), total defense (No. 31 at 304.3 ypg.) and scoring defense (No. 34 at 19.3 points per game). In addition, the Bearcats held seven of its 12 regular-season opponents to less than 100 yards rushing. In 2006, Tressel coached linebacker Kevin McCullough, who received first-team All-BIG EAST honors after leading the team in tackles (72) and tackles for losses (14.5 for 36 yards).
In 2005, he helped develop Corey Smith into a third-team Freshman All-American and second-team All-BIG EAST selection. In his first season at Cincinnati, Tressel's starting linebackers ranked first, third and fifth on the team in tackles, with both Jamar Enzor (second team) and Tyjuan Hagler (third team) garnering All-Conference USA honors. Hagler was taken by the Indianapolis Colts in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft.
Prior to joining Dantonio's staff at Cincinnati, Tressel spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Ohio State (2002-03), along with UC Head Coach Luke Fickell. The Buckeyes were National Champions in 2002.
Tressel previously coached at Wartburg (Iowa) College for four seasons (1998-01), helping the school to a combined record of 36-4 including one conference title. At Wartburg, he served as offensive line coach for three years before assuming the role of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the 2001 season.
A four-year starter in the secondary at Cornell (Iowa) College, Tressel became a two-time Academic All-American in football and a five-time Academic All-America selection overall (1994 football, second team; 1994 wrestling, second team; 1995 football, first team; 1995 wrestling, second team; 1996 wrestling, first team). Following graduation in 1996, he launched his coaching career at South Dakota as a graduate assistant for two seasons (1996-97), working on the offensive side of the football.
He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Cornell (Iowa) College in 1996 and received a master's degree in sports administration from South Dakota in 1998.
Tressel comes from a bloodline of successful coaches, as his uncle Jim Tressel won four NCAA I-AA championships at Youngstown State before leading Ohio State to the 2002 National Championship. His grandfather, Lee Tressel, ranked as one of the winningest coaches in Division III history and won a National Championship at Baldwin-Wallace College. His father Richard, who spent 23 seasons as head coach at Hamline, coached 11 seasons at Ohio State.
He and his wife Megan have two children: Logan and Quincy.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: September 28, 1973
Hometown: Gibsonburg, Ohio
Wife: Megan
Children: Logan and Quincy
Education: Cornell College (1996, B.S.), South Dakota (1998, M.S.)
Year in Coaching: 25th
PLAYING CAREER
1992-95: Cornell College (Defensive Back / Wrestler)
COACHING CAREER
YEAR: SCHOOL - POSITION
1996: South Dakota – Graduate Assistant
1997: South Dakota – Graduate Assistant
1998: Wartburg – Offensive Line
1999: Wartburg – Offensive Line
2000: Wartburg – Offensive Line
2001: Wartburg – Offensive Coordinator
2002: Ohio State – Graduate Assistant (LB)
2003: Ohio State - Graduate Assistant (LB)
2004: Cincinnati – Special Teams Coordinator/LB)
2005: Cincinnati – Special Teams Coordinator/LB)
2006: Cincinnati – Special Teams Coordinator/LB)
2007: Michigan State – Special Teams Coordinator/LB
2008: Michigan State – Special Teams Coordinator/LB
2009: Michigan State – Special Teams Coordinator/LB
2010: Michigan State – Special Teams Coordinator/LB
2011: Michigan State – Special Teams Coordinator/LB
2012: Michigan State – Special Teams Coordinator/LB
2013: Michigan State – Special Teams Coordinator/LB
2014: Michigan State – Special Teams Coordinator/LB
2015: Michigan State – Special Teams Coordinator/LB
2016: Michigan State – Co-DC/Linebackers
2017: Michigan State – Co-DC/Linebackers
2018: Michigan State – Defensive Coordinator/LB
2019: Michigan State – Defensive Coordinator/LB
2020: Michigan State – Safeties
2021: Cincinnati – Defensive Coordinator/LB
2022: Cincinnati – Defensive Coordinator/LB
BOWLS COACHED IN
YEAR: SCHOOL - BOWL
1999: Wartburg (NCAA Division III Playoffs)
2003: Ohio State – Fiesta (BCS National Championship Game)
2004: Ohio State – Fiesta
2004: Cincinnati – Fort Worth
2007: Michigan State – Champs Sports
2009: Michigan State – Capital One
2010: Michigan State – Alamo
2011: Michigan State – Capital One
2012: Michigan State – Outback
2012: Michigan State – Buffalo Wild Wings
2014: Michigan State – Rose
2015: Michigan State – Cotton
2015: Michigan State – Cotton (CFP Semifinal)
2017: Michigan State – Holiday
2018: Michigan State – Redbox
2019: Michigan State – Pinstripe
2021: Cincinnati – Cotton (CFP Semifinal)
In his first season back at UC, Tressel elevated the standards set on the defensive side of the ball the past several seasons as Cincinnati secured its first-ever 13-0 start, won the American Athletic Conference Championship and advanced to the College Football Playoff Semifinals at the Cotton Bowl.
Under Tressel's leadership, six Bearcats on the defensive side of the ball were selected in the 2022 NFL Draft - cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner (No. 4, New York Jets), safety Bryan Cook (No. 62, Kansas City Chiefs), defensive end Myjai Sanders (No. 100, Arizona Cardinals), linebacker Darrian Beavers (No. 182, New York Giants), cornerback Coby Bryant (No. 198, Seattle Seahawks) and defensive lineman Curtis Brooks (No. 216, Indianapolis Colts).
The Bearcats’ defense was outstanding, ranking fifth nationally in scoring defense (16.5) and No. 10 in total defense (318.4). The Bearcats also allowed only 4.5 yards per play to opponents, which was the fourth-fewest in the nation.
Cincinnati had the nation’s best pass defense, finishing No. 1 in the country in pass efficiency defense (103.37), No. 2 in passing yards allowed (169.2), No. 3 in interceptions (9) and No. 4 in opponent completion % (54.0).
Cincinnati also had 39 sacks, which ranked No. 2 in the AAC and No. 18 in the country.
Senior cornerback Coby Bryant was named the Jim Thorpe Award winner, while junior cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner earned unanimous AAC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Senior linebacker Darrian Beavers was one of six finalists for the Butkus Award – given to the nation’s top linebacker.
The Blackcats defense had nine of 11 starters capture All-AAC honors – led by Gardner and senior defensive end Myjai Sanders, who were both unanimous selections.
Joining Gardner and Sanders on the All-AAC First Team were Bryant, Beavers, senior defensive tackle Curtis Brooks, senior middle linebacker Joel Dublanko and senior safety Brian Cook. Sophomore linebacker Deshawn Pace and senior defensive tackle Marcus Brown also grabbed All-AAC honorable mention accolades.
Four Bearcats ranked in the AAC’s Top 10 in tackles, including Dublanko (113, second), Beavers (100, fifth), Pace (95, sixth) and Cook (93, eighth).
Tressel, who previously coached at UC from 2004-06 as special teams coordinator/linebackers coach, returned to the Clifton Heights campus after spending 14 seasons at Michigan State.
The 25-year coaching veteran was MSU’s linebackers coach from 2007-19 and also was the special teams coordinator his first eight seasons at MSU. Tressel was the co-defensive coordinator for two seasons (2016-17) and the sole defensive coordinator for two seasons (2018-19), in addition to being the assistant head coach in 2019 and coaching the safeties in 2020.
During his time at MSU, Tressel coached 20 players who earned 35 All-Big Ten Conference honors along with eight All-Americans and two major award winners. From 2007-19, the Spartans won Big Ten Conference Championships three times (2010, 2013, 2015) and played in 12 bowl games, including qualifying for the 2015 College Football Playoff. He was a nominee for the Broyles Award IN 2018, which honors the nation’s top assistant coach.
Spartans linebacker and Cincinnati native Greg Jones was a Consensus All-America selection in 2009 and 2010 and the 2009 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Defensive End Kenny Willekes was the 2018 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year and winner of the 2019 Burlsworth Trophy, given to the nation's most outstanding player that began his career as a walk-on.
Seven of his former linebackers have gone on to play in the NFL, including former Bearcats Jamar Enzor and Tyjuan Hagler.
Known for constructing some of the best defenses in the nation, Tressel helped coach the Spartans to final FBS Top 10 rankings in total and rushing defense on six occasions. MSU also ranked among college football’s top 10 in scoring defense four times and was the FBS leader in rushing defense in 2014 and 2018.
During Michigan State's Big Ten and Rose Bowl Championship season in 2013, the linebackers led the way for the only defense in the FBS to rank among the top three in rushing defense (No. 2 at 86.6 ypg.), total defense (No. 2 at 252.2 ypg.), scoring defense (No. 3 at 13.2 ppg.) and passing defense (No. 3 at 165.6 ypg.).
Tressel also oversaw a successful special teams unit from 2007-14 that was one of the best in the Big Ten under his direction. During his time as special teams coach, MSU had two first-team All-Big Ten placekickers (Dan Conroy and Brett Swenson), two first-team All-Big Ten punters (Mike Sadler and Aaron Bates), and featured conference leaders in kick returns (Devin Thomas), punt returns (Keshawn Martin), field goals (Swenson) and field-goal percentage (Swenson, Michael Geiger).
He arrived at Michigan State following the 2006 regular season, as he was one of eight assistants to follow Mark Dantonio to MSU from Cincinnati.
Tressel played a key role in Cincinnati's success over his three seasons (2003-06), as the Bearcats earned two bowl invitations. During the 2006 regular season, UC ranked among the national leaders in rushing defense (No. 27 at 107.5 yards per game), total defense (No. 31 at 304.3 ypg.) and scoring defense (No. 34 at 19.3 points per game). In addition, the Bearcats held seven of its 12 regular-season opponents to less than 100 yards rushing. In 2006, Tressel coached linebacker Kevin McCullough, who received first-team All-BIG EAST honors after leading the team in tackles (72) and tackles for losses (14.5 for 36 yards).
In 2005, he helped develop Corey Smith into a third-team Freshman All-American and second-team All-BIG EAST selection. In his first season at Cincinnati, Tressel's starting linebackers ranked first, third and fifth on the team in tackles, with both Jamar Enzor (second team) and Tyjuan Hagler (third team) garnering All-Conference USA honors. Hagler was taken by the Indianapolis Colts in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft.
Prior to joining Dantonio's staff at Cincinnati, Tressel spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Ohio State (2002-03), along with UC Head Coach Luke Fickell. The Buckeyes were National Champions in 2002.
Tressel previously coached at Wartburg (Iowa) College for four seasons (1998-01), helping the school to a combined record of 36-4 including one conference title. At Wartburg, he served as offensive line coach for three years before assuming the role of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the 2001 season.
A four-year starter in the secondary at Cornell (Iowa) College, Tressel became a two-time Academic All-American in football and a five-time Academic All-America selection overall (1994 football, second team; 1994 wrestling, second team; 1995 football, first team; 1995 wrestling, second team; 1996 wrestling, first team). Following graduation in 1996, he launched his coaching career at South Dakota as a graduate assistant for two seasons (1996-97), working on the offensive side of the football.
He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Cornell (Iowa) College in 1996 and received a master's degree in sports administration from South Dakota in 1998.
Tressel comes from a bloodline of successful coaches, as his uncle Jim Tressel won four NCAA I-AA championships at Youngstown State before leading Ohio State to the 2002 National Championship. His grandfather, Lee Tressel, ranked as one of the winningest coaches in Division III history and won a National Championship at Baldwin-Wallace College. His father Richard, who spent 23 seasons as head coach at Hamline, coached 11 seasons at Ohio State.
He and his wife Megan have two children: Logan and Quincy.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: September 28, 1973
Hometown: Gibsonburg, Ohio
Wife: Megan
Children: Logan and Quincy
Education: Cornell College (1996, B.S.), South Dakota (1998, M.S.)
Year in Coaching: 25th
PLAYING CAREER
1992-95: Cornell College (Defensive Back / Wrestler)
COACHING CAREER
YEAR: SCHOOL - POSITION
1996: South Dakota – Graduate Assistant
1997: South Dakota – Graduate Assistant
1998: Wartburg – Offensive Line
1999: Wartburg – Offensive Line
2000: Wartburg – Offensive Line
2001: Wartburg – Offensive Coordinator
2002: Ohio State – Graduate Assistant (LB)
2003: Ohio State - Graduate Assistant (LB)
2004: Cincinnati – Special Teams Coordinator/LB)
2005: Cincinnati – Special Teams Coordinator/LB)
2006: Cincinnati – Special Teams Coordinator/LB)
2007: Michigan State – Special Teams Coordinator/LB
2008: Michigan State – Special Teams Coordinator/LB
2009: Michigan State – Special Teams Coordinator/LB
2010: Michigan State – Special Teams Coordinator/LB
2011: Michigan State – Special Teams Coordinator/LB
2012: Michigan State – Special Teams Coordinator/LB
2013: Michigan State – Special Teams Coordinator/LB
2014: Michigan State – Special Teams Coordinator/LB
2015: Michigan State – Special Teams Coordinator/LB
2016: Michigan State – Co-DC/Linebackers
2017: Michigan State – Co-DC/Linebackers
2018: Michigan State – Defensive Coordinator/LB
2019: Michigan State – Defensive Coordinator/LB
2020: Michigan State – Safeties
2021: Cincinnati – Defensive Coordinator/LB
2022: Cincinnati – Defensive Coordinator/LB
BOWLS COACHED IN
YEAR: SCHOOL - BOWL
1999: Wartburg (NCAA Division III Playoffs)
2003: Ohio State – Fiesta (BCS National Championship Game)
2004: Ohio State – Fiesta
2004: Cincinnati – Fort Worth
2007: Michigan State – Champs Sports
2009: Michigan State – Capital One
2010: Michigan State – Alamo
2011: Michigan State – Capital One
2012: Michigan State – Outback
2012: Michigan State – Buffalo Wild Wings
2014: Michigan State – Rose
2015: Michigan State – Cotton
2015: Michigan State – Cotton (CFP Semifinal)
2017: Michigan State – Holiday
2018: Michigan State – Redbox
2019: Michigan State – Pinstripe
2021: Cincinnati – Cotton (CFP Semifinal)