Jim Tressel was introduced as the 22nd head football coach of the Ohio State University at a news conference yesterday.Athletics Director Andy Geiger announced that Tressel, who won four national titles in his 15 years at Division 1-AA Youngstown State, has signed a five-year contract starting with a base salary of $700,000 a year, plus a $100,000 signing bonus. His salary will increase by $100,000 each year.OSU President William “Brit” Kirwan started off the conference, and Geiger followed. Tressel was the final person to talk to the media. He spoke for about 30 minutes before answering several questions.When Tressel spoke, he focused on building a family at OSU and making sure his players understand the importance of success both on the field, in the classroom and in the community.”Team is the key to anything,” Tressel said. “If we can reach our potential, if we’re unselfish, if we care about one another and if we build relationships with everyone, there is nothing we can’t do.”Right away, Tressel made it clear how important this job is to him.”It is with tremendous excitement and humility that I accept this challenge and responsibility as the head football coach at the Ohio State University,” he said. “While touring campus this week, three words constantly appeared: Tradition, people and excellence.”Our task will be to uphold and build upon the storied past of Ohio State football, while developing each individual to reach his full potential on and off the field. This must all be done within the framework of the team, as we seek the standards of excellence of our great state and institution.”Tressel also spoke about leadership, the importance he places on academics and what he looks for in his staff.”Leadership is a service. Leadership is making sure that there is excellence in everything we do. Wherever it happens to be, excellence is what is expected.”One of the reasons for hiring Tressel was his players success in the classroom. Last fall semester, 28 of his players at YSU had a 3.0 or higher grade point average. Academics were one of the search committee’s major areas of concern.”We had our first discussion about the importance of class with our team this afternoon. I explained to the team something my dad used to always explain to us, there is only one reason to miss class, a death in the family – your own.”The new coach backed his words by explaining that his oldest son, Zak Tressel a junior pre-veterinary major at OSU, wasn’t at the conference because he had physics class.When Tressel discussed building his staff, he described some advice he received when he started out as a head coach. His athletics director when he was hired at Youngstown State told him not to focus on “some guru who wants to tell you that he invented the forward pass or some guy who says that he has a blitz that no one can pick up, but instead to go find some great men.” He emphasized that he looks for coaches who care about their players more than the X’s and O’s.Geiger spoke before Tressel and talked about why the former YSU head coach was chosen to be the next coach of the Buckeyes.”I am very proud to name Jim Tressel as our new head football coach,” said Geiger. “There were never any doubts with the X’s and O’s -the football side of it is not an issue. What really sold me on Jim Tressel was the person and what he brings to the table in other areas.”I really listened to the people in the Youngstown area about what he has meant to the university and the community. He is a proven winner, disciplinarian and cares deeply about his players. He is as fine a person as I have seen in 40 years of athletics. He is the person who can take our football program to the next level.”OSU President William “Brit” Kirwan began the conference by describing what the committee looked for during their search.”We were determined to find a person who could build a program that reflects the values of the Ohio State University,” said Kirwan. “We believe we have selected the right person for the job.”Tressel assumes the position as head coach immediately, and said that he’ll immediately try to get in touch with potential recruits, even during the OSU- Michigan basketball game at which he is scheduled to be introduced to the crowd as the new coach.”We understand how much work it’s going to take,” he said. “We want to get started now.”