Ryan Odom is in talks to become the next head coach for the Virginia basketball team, according to sources. This comes just days after VCU’s season ended with an 80-71 defeat to BYU in the NCAA tournament.
Odom has a notable coaching record. He famously led the 16-seed UMBC team to a shocking upset over 1-seed Virginia in the 2018 tournament. After five seasons at UMBC, where he took the team to the NCAA tournament once, Odom spent two years at Utah State. He guided the Aggies to the tournament in 2023 and then returned east to VCU.
In his two seasons with the Rams, Odom achieved an impressive 52-21 record, including a strong 26-10 in conference play. This year, VCU won both the Atlantic 10 regular-season title and the conference tournament, finishing with 18 wins in their last 20 games before facing BYU.
Odom hails from Durham, North Carolina, and has strong ties to the ACC as a former assistant coach at Virginia Tech. His father, Dave Odom, is a seasoned coach known for his time at South Carolina and Wake Forest.
This coaching shift comes after Tony Bennett, who had a celebrated 16-season tenure at Virginia, stepped down unexpectedly in October. Bennett, who won a national championship in 2019, cited the “current environment” in college sports as a significant factor in his decision. His interim replacement, Ron Sanchez, led the Cavaliers to a disappointing 15-17 record this season and was not retained.
Virginia’s coaching position is highly sought-after due to its strong support for basketball. The school is known for providing substantial resources for its athletics, especially in terms of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. Recent statistics show that many NCAA programs have increased their investment in NIL, which is changing the landscape of college basketball.
VCU stands out as an attractive opportunity, consistently producing successful coaches who move up to bigger programs. Since making the Final Four in 2011 under Shaka Smart, the Rams have missed out on just three NCAA tournaments.
If Odom takes the Virginia job, he would join a long line of coaches who have successfully navigated the challenges of college basketball, adapting to both the competitive and financial shifts in the sport.
Check out this related article: Columbia University Implements New Policies Amid Controversy Over Federal Funding: What You Need to Know
Source link