UNLV names Arkansas DC Odom as next coach
5:24 PM ET Adam Rittenberg Close ESPN Senior Writer College football press reporter. Signed up with ESPN.com in 2008.
to be its next head coach, the school announced Tuesday.He will be formally introduced in a 10 a.m. news conference on Wednesday.Odom has invested the previous 3 seasons at Arkansas under coach Sam Pittman. He’s the previous head coach at Missouri, his alma mater, where he went 25-25 in between 2016 and 2019. Odom, 46, changes Marcus Arroyo, who UNLV fired on Nov. 28 after three seasons with the program and a 7-23 record.2 Associated” We had an incredible amount of interest in this head training position and Coach Odom inspected every box, including
having experience successfully leading a program at the highest level of this sport,”UNLV athletic director Erick Harper said in a press release revealing the hire.”He is all well-respected around the nation and is the ideal person at the correct time for the Rebels as this program, this department and this university continue to rise as part of the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World here in Las Vegas.”Odom was likewise a strong prospect for Tulsa’s head-coaching vacancy, filled by Ohio State offending organizer Kevin Wilson.Arkansas’ defense made strides in Odom’s very first two seasons, permitting just 22.9 points per game in 2021. He coached several standout players with the Razorbacks, consisting of cornerback Montaric Brown, security Jalen Catalon and linebackers Bumper Pool and Drew Sanders.” I think in the vision and plan that President Whitfield and Mr. Harper have for the UNLV Athletics Department. That alignment piece is critical and together we will attain excellent success,”Odom stated in a declaration.”This city is founded on opportunity and we anticipate this opportunity to lead this program and engage with this incredible neighborhood and Rebels everywhere.”Odom acted as protective organizer at both Memphis and Missouri prior to changing longtime Missouri coach Gary Pinkel following the 2015 season.