The search for UNLV's next football coach didn't last long ago.
Former Missouri head coach Barry Odom is now the 13th head coach in UNLV history.
In addition to a stint as Missouri's head coach, Coach Odom spent the last three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Arkansas.
Coach Odom seems genuinely excited about the opportunity.
“I knew when the job came open, I was going all in to try to get this job. I believe in the opportunity. I believe in the leadership. I believe in the conference. I believe in the footprint of recruiting. There’s only one Vegas in the world. Let’s make it special.” -Coach Odom
The Details
Barry Odom's new job represents a hefty payday. His five-year contract includes a starting salary of $1.75 million. There are also bonuses for reaching certain milestones, such as winning a conference title, making a bowl game, and being ranked in the top 25.
My Thoughts
I made my thoughts clear on the firing of Coach Arroyo.
After the hiring of Coach Odom, I stand by my confusion. A 5–7 record is bad enough to get you fired, but 25–25 (Coach Odoms's record as a head coach) is good enough for a 5-year contract.
That being said, I still don’t doubt that Coach Odom will be successful at UNLV. The reason is the foundation built by Coach Arroyo and Coach Odom's desire to build on it, not start over completely.
This philosophy is the opposite of what Deion Sanders is trying to do in Colorado.
Coach Odom clearly stated that he wants current players to stay, not transfer. He also promises to emphasize recruiting high school players rather than hunting the transfer portal.
That commitment to building the team the right way should lead to success. The only question is how much success?
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