The Opening Drive 6/24: The Blueprint I Follow
Not just a championship coach—but a blueprint for how to lead, teach, and represent something bigger.
There are coaches you admire.
There are coaches you respect.
And then there are coaches who shape how you see the profession.
For me, Jim Tressel has always been that.
The Early Impression
Like most people, I first knew Coach Tressel for what he did on Saturdays. The wins. The championships. The way his teams carried themselves.
But what stood out more over time was how people talked about him.
When I was in college at Urbana, I had relationships with a few guys connected to the Ohio State Buckeyes footballprogram. And no matter who I talked to, the message was always the same—they spoke about him with a level of respect that went beyond football.
That stuck with me.
The Moment It Became Real
My first real connection to Coach Tressel came through my college coach, Todd Murgatroyd.
Late in my freshman season, Coach Murgs stepped down. Then not long after, we’re watching the national championship—and there he is, on the sideline with Ohio State.
That moment hit.
Loyalty mattered.
Relationships mattered.
And clearly, they mattered to Coach Tressel.
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The First Interaction
My first time actually being around Coach Tressel came at the Ohio State coaches clinic in 2011.
It was the spring of everything going on—the uncertainty, the pressure, knowing what was likely coming. And I remember thinking how easy it would’ve been for him to step back, let others handle it, and just get through that time.
But that’s not what he did.
He was there. Present. Engaged. Front and center.
Later that day, I’m at the social—24 years old, locked in, listening to Luke Fickell talk linebacker play. Taking notes like crazy, trying to soak up everything I could.
I look up.
And Coach Tressel is standing right next to me.
He puts his hand on my shoulder and asks,
“Young man, tell me one thing you learned today.”
So I give him everything I’ve got—every buzzword, every phrase, trying to sound like I knew what I was talking about.
He smirks. Tells me I’m smart.
Then says something I’ve carried with me ever since:
“You defeat complexity with simplicity.”
The Impact
That wasn’t just a quote.
That became a foundation.
It showed up years later in my first head coaching interview in 2018. It shaped how I answered questions, how I thought about building a program, and ultimately helped me land the job.
And because of that moment, I made a promise—to myself and to my grandmother—that I would show up the right way in my first game as a head coach.
Shirt and tie.
Not for tradition.
For respect.
For the opportunity.
And for the people who helped shape how I see this profession.
More Than a Resume
You can talk about Coach Tressel’s résumé all day.
A national championship in 2002.
A dominant record in rivalry games.
A program built on consistency and discipline.
And now, being recognized the right way—his name will be added to the Ohio Stadium Ring of Honor, alongside legends like Woody Hayes and Paul Brown.
That’s legacy.
But for me, it’s bigger than that.
Final Thoughts
When I think about how I want to coach—how I want to lead, how I want to treat players, how I want to build something that lasts—it always comes back to the same place.
Player first.
Simple.
Consistent.
Intentional.
There are a lot of great coaches.
But when it comes to laying the blueprint for how to do this the right way, for me, there’s no better example than Coach Tressel.
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