For Ohio State University head football coach Jim Tressel, the wins and national championships he compiled at Youngstown State and OSU aren't nearly as important to him as the life lessons he has taught his players over the years. Many have gone on to become teachers, coaches, athletic directors, and probation officers, and many other flourishing careers, finding success far beyond the football field. Now, in the powerful and inspiring More Than a Coach, the former players and people who know Tressel well reveal in never-before-told-stories how this unique coach's philosophy on football and life impacted their own lives in profound ways. More than 50 individuals gave author David Lee Morgan in-depth interviews, including former YSU athletic director Joe Malmisur, A.J. Hawk, Craig Krenzel, John Cooper, Troy Smith, and Archie Griffin, to name but a few. With Tressel's cooperation and support, and through Morgan's interviews comes a dynamic and dramatic book that will give readers a unique perspective on Tressel the coach, the mentor, and the friend.

Taking a decade-by-decade approach to the Ohio State University football tradition, this collection brings together over 40 stories from the most outstanding voices of the program. The spirit of Buckeyes football is not captured by just one phrase, one season, or one particular game; instead, the student-athletes and coaches who made the magic happen over eight decades blend their experiences to capture the true essence of their beloved school. From Howard "Hopalong" Cassady and Chris Spielman to Cris Carter and the players who helped win the 2002 National Championship, Ohio State fans will relish the intimate stories told by the figures they have come to cherish.