Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Mike Tressel

Mike Tressel (born September 28, 1973) is an American coach serving as the and inside linebackers coach for the Badgers. The nephew of former head coach and son of high school coach Dick Tressel, Mike Tressel hails from a prominent coaching family in Gibsonburg, . He played college as a four-year starter in the secondary at in , earning a degree there in 1996, before obtaining a from the in 1998. Married to Megan Tressel, he is the father of two children, and . Tressel's coaching career spans over 25 years, beginning as a graduate assistant at the from 1996 to 1997. He then served as offensive line coach at from 1998 to 2000 and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2001, where his teams compiled a 36–4 record and won a conference championship. Joining in 2007, Tressel held multiple roles over 14 seasons, including linebackers coach (2007–2019), special teams coordinator (2007–2014), co-defensive coordinator (2015–2017), defensive coordinator (2018–2019), assistant head coach (2019), safeties coach (), and interim head coach briefly in 2020. During his tenure at Michigan State, he contributed to a 2015 Cotton Bowl victory and developed standout players like two-time All-American Greg Jones. In 2021, Tressel became at the , where he orchestrated top-ranked defenses that propelled the Bearcats to the 2021 semifinal, allowing the fourth-fewest yards per play nationally that season. In 2022, his unit ranked 20th nationally in yards per play allowed (4.60) and total defense (335.5 yards per game), earning him the (AFCA) Assistant Coach of the Year award. Tressel joined the in 2023 as , leading a unit that ranked 75th nationally in passing defense (183.5 yards per game) during the 2024 season.

Early life and playing career

Early life

Mike Tressel was born on September 28, 1973, in Gibsonburg, Ohio. He is the son of Dick Tressel, a longtime college football coach who served as head coach at Hamline University for 23 seasons (1978–2000) and as running backs coach at Ohio State University from 2004 to 2011. Tressel is also the nephew of Jim Tressel, the former head coach at Ohio State University who led the Buckeyes to a national championship in 2002. Additionally, he is the grandson of Lee Tressel, who coached at Baldwin-Wallace College and guided the team to the 1978 NCAA Division III national championship. Growing up in a steeped in football coaching traditions, Tressel was exposed to the sport from an early age through his relatives' professional involvement, which shaped his foundational understanding of the game. This legacy appeared to destine him for a similar path, though his initially encouraged exploring other options before committing to coaching. Tressel later attended Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, for his higher education.

Playing career

Mike Tressel attended in , from 1992 to 1996, where he balanced rigorous academics with participation in collegiate athletics as a and wrestler. Influenced by his family's longstanding coaching legacy, he competed for the Cornell Rams during this period. He graduated with a in in 1996. On the gridiron, Tressel served as a four-year starter in the secondary for the from 1992 to 1995. His contributions as a helped the team in play. Additionally, he competed in wrestling for Cornell, participating in competitions, including an eighth-place finish at 142 pounds in the 1994 national championships. Tressel's academic prowess was recognized with Academic All-American honors in both sports, earning the distinction twice in and three times in wrestling, making him a five-time honoree overall. These awards highlighted his ability to excel scholastically while maintaining a demanding athletic schedule. After completing his undergraduate degree, Tressel pursued further education in athletics, earning a in sports administration from the in 1998. This graduate work provided foundational knowledge for his transition into coaching roles.

Coaching career

Early coaching career

After graduating from in 1996 with a degree in , Mike Tressel began his coaching career as a on the offensive staff at the , serving from 1996 to 1997. During this time, he earned a in sports administration from in 1998. Tressel then moved to Wartburg College in Iowa, where he coached the offensive line from 1998 to 2000. In 2001, he was promoted to and quarterbacks coach, contributing to a highly successful program that achieved a 36-4 overall record during his tenure, including one conference championship and three appearances in the playoffs. These early roles allowed him to develop expertise in offensive line play and quarterback development at the Division III level. In 2002, Tressel joined the staff as a focused on defense, specifically working with linebackers under . He remained in this position through the 2003 season, which included the Buckeyes' undefeated 14-0 campaign and victory in the to claim the BCS . Tressel followed Dantonio to the in 2004, where he served as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator through the 2006 season. In this role, he emphasized defensive fundamentals for linebackers alongside special teams strategies, building foundational experience in competition.

Michigan State

Mike Tressel joined in 2007 as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator, following head coach from Cincinnati. In 2015, he was promoted to co- while retaining his linebackers coaching duties, a role he held through the 2017 season. Tressel then served as the full and linebackers coach from 2018 to 2019. For the 2020 season, Tressel transitioned to safeties coach under new head coach Mel Tucker. Following Dantonio's retirement announcement in February 2020, Tressel was named interim head coach during the search for a permanent replacement, overseeing the program's transition until Tucker's hiring later that month. During his tenure at Michigan State, Tressel coached several standout linebackers, including All-Americans Greg Jones in 2009 and 2010, Denicos Allen in 2013, and Max Bullough in 2013. His units contributed to the Spartans' defensive successes, such as the 2013 season when Michigan State ranked first nationally in scoring defense (10.5 points per game allowed) and helped secure a berth in the . The team made multiple bowl appearances, including the 2017 and , with Tressel's defenses consistently ranking among the Big Ten's top units in total defense. Tressel departed Michigan State after the 2020 season to become at .

Cincinnati

In January 2021, Mike Tressel returned to the , his , as and linebackers coach, marking his second stint with the Bearcats program after serving in those same roles from 2004 to 2006. His 14 years of experience at Michigan State, including as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, positioned him to implement a multiple-front defensive scheme under . Tressel's first season in saw the Bearcats' defense achieve top-10 national rankings, including fifth in scoring defense at 16.9 points per game and fifth in total defense at 318.4 yards per game, which played a key role in Cincinnati's undefeated 13-0 and selection as the No. 4 seed in the . The unit's performance featured strong run defense and opportunistic play, allowing 3.6 yards per carry while forcing 30 turnovers. In 2022, Tressel continued to oversee the development of the linebackers group during Fickell's tenure, guiding a that ranked 20th nationally in total defense (335.5 yards per game) and allowed 4.6 opponent yards per play. These efforts contributed to a 9-4 season and earned Tressel the (AFCA) Assistant Coach of the Year award for FBS in November 2022. Tressel left Cincinnati after the 2022 season.

Wisconsin

Mike Tressel was hired as the of Wisconsin's and inside linebackers coach on January 3, 2023, joining head coach after serving in a similar role at . His prior experience as at , where he led a unit that reached the , provided the foundation for this hire. In his first two seasons, Tressel implemented versatile defensive schemes emphasizing adaptability across multiple fronts to counter Big Ten offenses. Under his direction in 2024, the Badgers allowed 177.7 passing yards per game (ranked 46th nationally), while the scoring defense allowed 23.1 . These improvements helped establish a more aggressive defensive identity for , focusing on disrupting passing attacks while maintaining physicality in the run game. Entering his third year in 2025, Tressel has emphasized continued adaptability and player-driven improvements amid heightened program expectations tied to Fickell's tenure, including a shift toward a more aggressive scheme to address prior inconsistencies. As of November 2025, the defense has shown progress in run stopping but ranks 86th nationally in pass defense, allowing over 230 yards per game, highlighting ongoing adjustments during the season. During a July 28, 2025, media day press conference, Tressel discussed goals for enhancing turnover production and scheme flexibility to elevate the unit's Big Ten performance. Tressel oversees the development of inside linebackers, contributing to the Badgers' defensive core in the . In 2024, he mentored linebacker Christian Alliegro to 66 total tackles, the second-highest on the , fostering a group known for tackling efficiency and gap discipline. His work has reinforced Wisconsin's tradition of linebacker-led defenses, with emphasis on technique refinement during fall camp to build depth for sustained Big Ten contention.

References

  1. [1]
    Mike Tressel - University of Cincinnati Athletics
    Mike Tressel started his second stint at the University of Cincinnati in January 2021 as the Bearcats defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
  2. [2]
    Mike Tressel | Football Coach | Wisconsin Badgers
    Mike Tressel enters his third year commanding the Badgers' defense in 2025. In 2024, Tressel's Badger defense ranked 14th nationally in passing defense ...
  3. [3]
    MSU defensive coordinator Mike Tressel: 3 quick facts
    Oct 5, 2019 · Dick Tressel is Jim Tressel's brother, making Jim Tressel the uncle of Mike Tressel.
  4. [4]
    Profiling the Michigan State Assistant Coaches: Linebacker Coach ...
    Jun 28, 2011 · He served as a graduate assistant coach for two years before he was promoted to offensive line coach in 1998.
  5. [5]
    Mike Tressel - University of Cincinnati Athletics
    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 ...
  6. [6]
    MSU staff holdover Mike Tressell gets new role: safeties coach
    Mar 10, 2020 · Tressel served as Michigan State's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach each of the past two seasons after three years as co-defensive ...
  7. [7]
    Former MSU football DC wins coach of the year award - Spartans Wire
    Nov 29, 2022 · He served as a linebackers coach and special teams coordinator from 2007-2014 and as defensive coordinator from 2015-2019 on Mark Dantonio's ...
  8. [8]
    Wisconsin eager to show defense can stay elite - Spectrum News
    Aug 30, 2023 · Tressel worked on playoff teams at both Cincinnati (2021) and Michigan State (2015). Cincinnati allowed the fourth-fewest yards per play of any ...Missing: achievements | Show results with:achievements
  9. [9]
    Mike Tressel | Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers | Staff ...
    Jan 3, 2023 · In 2022, Tressel earned AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year honors after coaching a Bearcats defense that ranked fifth in the nation in yards per ...Missing: achievements | Show results with:achievements
  10. [10]
    NCAA Divison III Championship Season of 1978
    Jul 10, 2024 · Baldwin Wallace University won its first national football crown when Coach Lee Tressel and the Yellow Jackets defeated arch-rival Wittenberg, 24-10, in the ...
  11. [11]
    Mike Tressel '96: Coaching comes naturally
    Oct 29, 2020 · Mike Tressel '96 appeared destined for a career coaching football like his grandfather, father, and uncle. But when it came time for Tressel ...Missing: exposure | Show results with:exposure
  12. [12]
    Howe claims CoSIDA Academic All-America honors - Cornell College
    Five-time honoree Mike Tressel (football, wrestling) is the only student-athlete in Cornell history to win more CoSIDA Academic All-America awards than Howe.<|separator|>
  13. [13]
    Mike Tressel - Football Coach - Michigan State University Athletics
    Mike Tressel, who is in his 14th year on the defensive staff at Michigan State, enters his first year as the safeties coach. Tressel served as the program's ...
  14. [14]
    2002 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results
    Record: 14-0 (1st of 117) (Schedule & Results) ; Rank: 1st in the Final AP poll ; Conference: Big Ten ; Conference Record: 8-0 ; Coach: Jim Tressel (14-0).
  15. [15]
    Mike Tressel named MSU football acting head coach during search
    Feb 4, 2020 · Tressel served as the Michigan State defensive coordinator in 2018 and 2019. He was the MSU linebackers coach throughout his 13 years with the ...
  16. [16]
    Mike Tressel - Football Coach - Michigan State University Athletics
    The Cincinnati, Ohio, native became the first Spartan to win Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year accolades after collecting 154 tackles in 2009, the most ...Missing: achievements | Show results with:achievements
  17. [17]
    Mike Tressel ready to ride solo coaching Spartans defense
    Jan 20, 2018 · Back then, Tressel was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the Division III school. Things have changed quite a bit since ...
  18. [18]
    Cincinnati to hire Michigan State assistant Mike Tressel as defensive ...
    Jan 18, 2021 · The nephew of former Ohio State and Youngstown State coach Jim Tressel, Mike has been with the Spartans program for the past 14 years, serving ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  19. [19]
    Football Names Mike Tressel Defensive Coordinator
    Jan 27, 2021 · He was the co-defensive coordinator for two seasons (2016-17) and the sole defensive coordinator for two seasons (2018-19), in addition to being ...
  20. [20]
    Sources: Cincinnati Bearcats to hire Michigan State's Mike Tressel ...
    Jan 18, 2021 · Cincinnati's defense ranked eighth nationally in points allowed (16.8 PPG) in 2020 and returns defensive linemen Myjai Sanders and Curtis Brooks ...
  21. [21]
    Defense - Points Per Game 2021 FBS College Football
    ... FBS College Football - Defense Points Per Game a ranking of every Division I Team. ... Cincinnati, 16.9. 6. Minnesota, 17.3. 6. Penn State, 17.3. 8. Michigan ...
  22. [22]
    2021 National Leaders Total Defense - All Games through 01/10/2022
    Cincinnati, 14, 2088, 2369, 996, 4457, 4.47, 318.4. 11, Liberty, 13, 1819, 2344, 874, 4163, 4.76, 320.2. 12, San Diego State, 14, 1151, 3401, 960, 4552, 4.74 ...
  23. [23]
    2022 National Leaders Total Defense - All Games through 01/09/2023
    Cincinnati, 13, 1992, 2369, 945, 4361, 4.61, 335.5. 30, New Mexico State, 13, 1943, 2425, 872, 4368, 5.01, 336.0. 31, Fresno State, 14, 2096, 2650, 924, 4746 ...
  24. [24]
    AFCA Assistant Coaches of the Year
    Nov 29, 2022 · The 2022 honorees are as follows: FBS– Mike Tressel, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach, University of Cincinnati. FCS– Chris Kappas ...
  25. [25]
    Luke Fickell taking assistants to Wisconsin; UC football roster news
    Dec 6, 2022 · Mike Tressel spent two seasons as Luke Fickell's defensive coordinator at the University of Cincinnati. Satterfield said Monday he wants a staff ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  26. [26]
    Wisconsin football announces the hiring of Phil Longo and Mike ...
    Jan 3, 2023 · Tressel had been on staff for the Bearcats since 2020 after moving through the defensive coaching ranks at Michigan State from 2007-2019.
  27. [27]
    Wisconsin announces Mike Tressel, Phil Longo joining staff - ESPN
    Jan 3, 2023 · Wisconsin on Tuesday announced the hiring of Tressel as defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach and Phil Longo as offensive coordinator/ ...
  28. [28]
    Wisconsin's defense reaches new heights under Mike Tressel. Now ...
    Oct 22, 2024 · Wisconsin now ranks 18th nationally in scoring defense (17.6 ... Badgers beat their first ranked opponent in three years on Saturday.
  29. [29]
    https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/university-of-cincinnati/2022/12/06/cincinnati-football-news-luke-fickell-taking-assistants-josh-whyle-nfl-draft-transfer-portal-updates/69706759007/
  30. [30]
    Videos: Jeff Grimes, Mike Tressel Speak from Wisconsin Media Day
    Jul 28, 2025 · Wisconsin coordinators Jeff Grimes and Mike Tressel addressed the press from local media day ahead of the Badgers beginning fall camp.
  31. [31]
    Everything DC Mike Tressel said after Fall Camp Thursday
    Aug 14, 2025 · He doesn't want to cross over, so he naturally has good inside linebacker skills. The other thing he has: he is a really sharp kid, so he is ...