Mike Tressel enters his third year commanding the Badgers' defense in 2025.
In 2024, Tressel's Badger defense ranked 14th nationally in passing defense (177.7). That was the lowest clip for a Tressel defense since Cincinnati allowed only 169.2 yards per game in 2021, a season that saw Cincinnati post a perfect regular season record and become the first Group of 5 program to reach the CFP Semifinals. Tressel worked closely with the Badger inside linebackers in 2024, mentoring LB Christian Alliegro to 66 total tackles, the second most of any Badger. Alliegro tallied 45 tackles in November, the second-most among Big Ten linebackers.
In 2023 under Tressel, the Wisconsin defense assembled a handful of strong individual performances. Junior safety Hunter Wohler earned AP All-Big Ten honors and totaled 120 tackles, the most for the Badgers and second-most in the Big Ten. Wohler was the first Big Ten DB to post 110+ tackles, multiple INTs and a sack in the same season since 2010. His 120 tackles were the most for a Badger DB since 1991.
CB Ricardo Hallman, who garnered AP third team All-America honors, grabbed seven interceptions to lead the nation. Hallman was the first Badger CB to tally seven INTs since 2000.
Tressel joined the Wisconsin staff on Jan. 3, 2023 as defensive coordinator, joining head coach Luke Fickell in his transition from Cincinnati. Tressel, named the Bearcats’ defensive coordinator in 2021, elevated the play of the Cincinnati defensive unit, producing six NFL draft selections on defense after his first season leading the unit. Prior to his stint with the Bearcats, Tressel spent 2007-2020 at Michigan State, holding a variety of roles for the Spartan special teams and defensive units.
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 play allowed (4.52). LB Ivan Pace Jr. (93.1) collected a handful of First Team All-America honors and joined Cincinnati DT Dontay Corleone (93.9) as the top two highest-graded defensive players in the country, according to PFF College. Pace Jr., Corleone, NT Jowon Briggs and CB Ja’Quan Sheppard earned First Team All-AAC honors.
In Tressel’s first season, 2021, the Bearcats’ defense was outstanding, ranking fifth nationally in scoring defense (16.5) and No. 10 in total defense (318.4). The Bearcats also allowed only 4.5 yards per play to opponents, which was the fourth-fewest in the nation. Cincinnati had the nation’s best pass defense, finishing No. 1 in the country in pass efficiency defense (103.37), No. 2 in passing yards allowed (169.2), No. 3 in interceptions (9) and No. 4 in opponent completion % (54.0). Cincinnati also had 39 sacks, which ranked No. 2 in the AAC and No. 18 in the country.
After the record-breaking season, Bearcats cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner (No. 4 pick, New York Jets), safety Bryan Cook, defensive end Myjai Sanders, linebacker Darrian Beavers, cornerback Coby Bryant and defensive lineman Curtis Brooks all headed to the league.
Cincinnati defense under Tressel – 2021-2022
| Category |
AAC Rank |
NCAA Rank |
Value |
| Scoring Defense |
1st |
11th |
18.7 |
| Sacks |
1st |
13th |
74 |
| Passer Rating |
1st |
3rd |
107.9 |
| Passing Yards |
1st |
2nd |
175.5 ypg |
| Total Defense |
1st |
14th |
326.6 ypg |
| Third Down % |
2nd |
37th |
36.2 |
Tressel, who previously coached at UC from 2004-06 as special teams coordinator/linebackers coach, returned to the Bearcats after spending 14 seasons at Michigan State. The 25-year coaching veteran was MSU’s linebackers coach from 2007-19 and also was the special teams coordinator his first eight seasons at MSU. Tressel was the co-defensive coordinator for two seasons (2016-17) and the sole defensive coordinator for two seasons (2018-19), in addition to being the assistant head coach in 2019 and coaching the safeties in 2020.
During his time at MSU, Tressel coached 20 players who earned 35 All-Big Ten Conference honors along with eight All-Americans and two major award winners. From 2007-19, the Spartans won Big Ten Conference Championships three times (2010, 2013, 2015) and played in 12 bowl games, including qualifying for the 2015 College Football Playoff. He was a nominee for the Broyles Award in 2018, which honors the nation’s top assistant coach.
Known for constructing some of the best defenses in the nation, Tressel helped coach the Spartans to final FBS Top 10 rankings in total and rushing defense on six occasions. MSU also ranked among college football’s top 10 in scoring defense four times and was the FBS leader in rushing defense in 2014 and 2018. He arrived at Michigan State following the 2006 regular season, as he was one of eight assistants to follow Mark Dantonio to MSU from Cincinnati.
Prior to joining Dantonio’s staff at Cincinnati, Tressel spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Ohio State (2002-03), along with Fickell. The Buckeyes were National Champions in 2002. Tressel previously coached at Wartburg (Iowa) College for four seasons (1998-01). A four-year starter in the secondary at Cornell (Iowa) College, Tressel became a two-time Academic All-American in football and a three-time Academic All-America in wrestling.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Cornell (Iowa) College in 1996 and received a master’s degree in sports administration from South Dakota in 1998.
Tressel comes from a bloodline of successful coaches, as his uncle Jim Tressel won four NCAA I-AA championships at Youngstown State before leading Ohio State to the 2002 National Championship. His grandfather, Lee Tressel, ranked as one of the winningest coaches in Division III history and won a National Championship at Baldwin-Wallace College. His father Richard, who spent 23 seasons as head coach at Hamline, coached 11 seasons at Ohio State.
He and his wife Megan have two children: Logan and Quincy.
Personal
Hometown: Gibsonburg, Ohio
Wife: Megan
Children: Logan and Quincy
Education: Cornell College (1996, B.S.), South Dakota (1998, M.S.)
Playing Career
1992-95: Cornell College (Defensive Back / Wrestler)
| Tressel's Coaching Career |
| Year |
School/Team |
Position |
| 1996-97 |
South Dakota |
Graduate Assistant |
| 1998-2000 |
Wartburg |
Offensive Line |
| 2001 |
Wartburg |
Offensive Coordinator |
| 2002-03 |
Ohio State |
Graduate Assistant - LBs |
| 2004-06 |
Cincinnati |
Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers |
| 2007-15 |
Michigan State |
Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers |
| 2016-17 |
Michigan State |
Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers |
| 2018-19 |
Michigan State |
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers |
| 2020 |
Michigan State |
Safeties |
| 2021-22 |
Cincinnati |
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers |
| 2023-present |
Wisconsin |
Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers |
