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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio football program named Joe Tresey as the Assistant Coach and Director of High School Relations, as announced by head coach Brian Smith.
Tresey initially joined the Bobcats as a recruiting assistant in Aug. 2024, coming to Ohio by way of Walsh University, where he was an assistant coach during the 2023 season after he briefly returned to high school coaching at Canton McKinley (2021-22). He brings with him over three decades of coaching experience, making multiple stops at Mid-American Conference schools.
"Joe's decades of coaching and recruiting expertise have positively impacted our program from the moment he set foot on campus," said Smith. "As we prepare for fall camp and the 2025 season, I have full confidence he will continue to improve our defensive unit."
Throughout his career, Tresey has coached more than 25 current and former players who have moved on to play in the NFL. Since 1995, Tresey has served as a defensive coordinator at the college level for upwards of 15 seasons, most recently at Norfolk State (2019) and Youngstown State (2012-13). He also called the defensive shots for FBS programs at UCLA (2011), South Florida (2009), Cincinnati (2007-08), Central Michigan (2006), and Akron (2002-03, 2018).
In 2012, Youngstown State ranked 11th in the FCS in total defense, while allowing just 95.5 rushing yards per game. One year earlier, Tresey's defense helped UCLA advance to the PAC 12 Championship Game.
In 2009, South Florida ranked 19th in the nation in scoring defense and won the International Bowl. Two years prior, Tresey oversaw a Cincinnati defense that led the nation in turnovers gained and interceptions, while ranking 13th in scoring defense. He also led Central Michigan to a MAC Championship and the Motor City Bowl in 2006 when serving as defensive coordinator.
Tresey also has experience at the FCS level, coaching at Georgia Southern (2004-05) before they joined the Sun Belt Conference in 2014 as well as VMI (1999-01). Additionally, Tresey is a veteran at the high school level and recently served as athletic director at Clear Fork. His high school experience includes nine seasons as a head coach, including three years at Fredericktown, where he earned 1989 UPI Ohio Division IV Coach of the Year honors.
Bringing a wide array of experience, Tresey also coached defensive backs for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League in 2010.
A native of Warren, Ohio, Tresey graduated from JFK High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in education from Ohio State in 1982 and a master's degree in sport science from Ashland in 1997. Tresey was inducted into the JFK Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Fredericktown High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999.
Tresey and his wife, Patty, have one son, Patrick, who currently teaches and coaches at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Ga. They also have one grandson, Maxwell.
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