Ellen and Jim Tressel

YOUNGSTOWN — Jim and Ellen Tressel are no longer the first couple of Youngstown State University, but they are still among the school’s biggest benefactors.

Their latest gift will benefit YSU’s Kilcawley Center project.

The Tressels have made a $200,000 contribution to Youngstown State University’s “Kilcawley: Centered on the Future” campaign, marking another major milestone in the transformative renovation of Kilcawley Center, according to a news release from YSU.

Jim Tressel served as university president from 2014 to 2023, and head football coach from 1986 to 2001.

The Tressels are members of the YSU Transformation Giving Society for their lifetime contributions exceeding $2 million.

In addition to the donation, the Tressels also serve on the Kilcawley Renovation Campaign Leadership Cabinet.

“We are excited to support the renovation of Kilcawley Center, a place that has served as the heart of student life for so many generations of Penguins,” said Jim Tressel. “This project will offer a modern, collaborative space where students can engage with one another and their community, creating opportunities for personal and academic growth for years to come.”

The Tressels’ $200,000 gift will fund the naming of two key spaces in the revamped Kilcawley Center. The first-floor meeting room will be named in honor of Jim and Ellen Tressel, recognizing their enduring impact on the university and its students, the release states.

The second-floor lounge will be named in honor of Ellen’s parents, Frank and Norma Watson, whose decades of philanthropic support for YSU helped shape the university’s success.

“My parents were passionate about supporting Youngstown State University, and this is a fitting tribute to their legacy. We are honored to be part of this exciting chapter in the university’s history,” Ellen Tressel stated in the release.

The Kilcawley Center renovation is set to become one of the university’s most significant projects in recent years, creating a robust and modern space that will benefit the entire YSU community for decades to come, the release states.

“Kilcawley Center has always been a place of connection and tradition for our students, and with this renovation, we are investing in a space that will continue to inspire and unite students for generations to come,” said Scott Schulick, chairperson of the Kilcawley: Centered on the Future campaign. “Jim and Ellen’s generous support will leave a lasting legacy at YSU, and we are incredibly grateful for their leadership and vision.”

The renovated Kilcawley Center will feature expanded event spaces, modern lounges, and flexible areas designed to promote collaboration and innovation, the release states.

“Kilcawley Center is an iconic part of YSU’s history, and it will continue to be the heart of student life for generations to come,” Ellen Tressel said in the release.

President Bill Johnson also emphasized the significance of the renovation project and the Tressels’ generous gift.

“The Kilcawley Center renovation represents more than just an upgrade to a building — it’s an investment in the future of our students and our community,” Johnson said. “Thanks to the continued support of donors like Jim and Ellen, we are creating a space that will serve as a hub for innovation, creativity, and connection for years to come.”