AKRON, Ohio -- Former Ohio State University football coach Jim Tressel will continue to champion student success, but in a suit and tie instead of a sweater vest.

Tressel was introduced Thursday as the new vice president of strategic engagement at the University of Akron. The position was created for him after he and UA President Luis Proenza realized they shared a vision of how to boost student achievement in and out of the classroom.

Tressel's role will be to create connections between the university and the community and to raise support for UA's new strategic plan.

"This position is an investment with many returns for both of us," Proenza said at a news conference Thursday morning.

Many of the reporters there wanted to know how one of the most successful football coaches in OSU history was faring following his resignation last May amid an NCAA investigation of rules violations.

Tressel, 59, who said he had been pursuing other positions in higher education since leaving OSU, responded that he was doing just fine.

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Jim Tressel's career

1979-80, Miami (Ohio),

Had a 135-57-2 record, including 23-6 in NCAA Division I-AA playoff games. Won national championship games in seasons of 1991 (defeating Marshall), 1993 (Marshall), 1994 (Boise State) and 1997 (McNeese State).

Had a 106-22 record, including 6-4 in bowl games. However, after vacating Ohio State's 12 wins during the 2010 season as a penalty for NCAA rules violations, the record is 94-22, including 5-4 in bowl games.

Won the BCS National Championship Game in the 2002 season (defeating Miami, Fla.). Lost BCS National Championship Game in seasons of 2006 (Florida) and 2007 (Louisiana State).

"Any time adversity comes, you reach to your rock -- and mine is faith, family and friends," he said. "You have to reflect on what's important. God knows we're not all perfect. You like to do the best you possibly can. Intentions are very important. My intentions were to help young people in the community."

He said he'll still be coaching every day -- but instead of being on the field "with the oblong thing that bounces funny" he'll be an educator.

"Students asked me what will I do," he said, referring to the meeting he had early Thursday with student leaders. "The first thing is to listen and learn and become part of the team. I will do all I possibly can to develop relationships with alumni, friends, future students, schools and businesses. Life is about the relationships you forge."

Tressel, who will report directly to Proenza, is scheduled to start work on May 1, at a base salary of $200,000, pending approval of a two-year contract by university trustees.

He will focus on the new Akron Experience program, which will offer students learning opportunities outside the classroom such as service projects or opportunities in their field of interest. He will also help in creating "learning pathways" that would determine when students enroll whether they need extra academic help to increase their chances of remaining in school and graduating.

Tressel -- wearing a lapel pin depicting Akron's mascot, Zippy the kangaroo, and a gold tie with blue kangaroos -- was accompanied by his wife, Ellen.

Ellen Tressel said after the news conference that her husband had bounced back to his old self.

"He is perfect for this," she said of his new position. "It has always been about students."

Tressel said it was great "to come back to the place that gave you your first chance."

His first college coaching job, as a graduate assistant, was at Akron, where he earned a master's degree in education in 1977. He first made his mark as a head coach at Youngstown State, where he won four national championships at the Division I-AA level. He was hired at OSU in 2001.

Tressel said he began considering shifting his career from the football field to the classroom about four years ago. In August 2008, Tressel's contract extension included a new provision that the athletic department would fund a teaching position at OSU whenever he decided to retire as a coach. Tressel proposed that after he turned down the idea of a lifetime coaching contract.

Tressel said that when he left OSU, he decided to focus on opportunities in higher education. He acknowledged Thursday that he had talked to officials at Baldwin-Wallace College and Wittenberg University about their presidential searches. Tressel declined to say how far those talks had progressed.

Proenza said that when he asked Tressel in December to suggest candidates to become UA's new football coach, they began to talk about other academic issues and soon realized they had the same ideas about encouraging student success.

As he continued conversations with Proenza, Tressel also spoke with his longtime friend William "Mike" Sherman, Akron's provost. Sherman, who started the Akron job in 2010, previously had been vice provost for academic planning and professor of sport and exercise science at OSU, where he had worked for 25 years.

Tressel's stature will help Akron attract students, Sherman said. Current students interviewed on Thursday seemed thrilled Tressel would be on campus.

"I love it, no matter what he does," said Nick Lopez, 21, a junior from Medina, who came to the news conference. "It brings excitement to campus, and he's a national figure."

Student leaders applauded and cheered when Tressel was introduced at an 8 a.m. meeting, said Jennifer Hageman, 21, a senior from North Jackson who works in the student life department.

"He said he wants to learn from students on how to improve the campus and talked a lot about building relationships with the community," she said. He spoke of leadership, Hageman said, and the impact students can make.

It does not appear the university hired Tressel simply because of his name, she said.

"He seems passionate and he has a lot of experience."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: kfarkas@plaind.com, 216-999-5079