John Copper:
During his time in Columbus, he never won an outright Big Ten championship, but shared Big Ten titles in 1993, 1996, and 1998. In his 13 seasons at Ohio State Cooper compiled a 111-43-4 won-loss record, second in Ohio State history behind only Woody Hayes.
Overall, Cooper will be remembered for his many victories at Ohio State but also for his 3-8 bowl record and his 2-10-1 record against rival Michigan. His most crippling losses to the Wolverines came in 1993, 1995, and 1996. In 1993, Ohio State entered the game undefeated, ranked #5, and heavily favored, only to be shut out by the Wolverines and denied their first trip to Pasadena in almost 10 years. In 1995, Ohio State lost a #2 ranking, the Big Ten title, and another shot at the Rose Bowl by losing to the Wolverines, 31-23, in Ann Arbor.
In 1996, the Buckeyes smelled revenge in Columbus and were ranked #2, but failed to achieve payback. The gut-wrenching 1996 loss, which came by a 13-9 score, prevented a #2 vs. #3 matchup in the Rose Bowl against Cooper's former team, Arizona State. That team did win the Rose Bowl and finished with a #2 ranking. In 1998, Ohio State again achieved a #2 ranking, winning the Sugar Bowl and again sharing the Big Title.
Jim Tressel:
was hired in 2001 to replace John Cooper. Since becoming Ohio State's 22nd head football coach, his team has played for three National Championships (winning one in 2002), achieving the first 14–0 season record in major college football since Penn went 15–0 in 1897.[1] He has an overall record of 92–21, including six Big Ten Conference championships, a 4–4 bowl record (3–3 in BCS bowl games) and a 7–1 record against archrival Michigan. Tressel's 7 wins against Michigan place him second in school history to Woody Hayes' 16, and alone in Ohio State football history in winning 7 of his first 8 meetings with the Wolverines, as well as being the only Ohio State head coach to win 5 consecutive games against Michigan. and lets not forget 5 Big Ten Titles in a row!