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Post by Speedwell Cat on Dec 8, 2023 16:52:42 GMT -5
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Post by The Cats on Dec 8, 2023 19:58:28 GMT -5
Odom steps down as head football coachGREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- After eight successful seasons at the helm of the Tusculum University football program, Jerry Odom has tendered his resignation as the Pioneers' head coach announced Josh Ealy, TU Director of Athletics. Odom, who posted a 42-38 record at the Greeneville, Tennessee school, is stepping down to accept a position at a NCAA Division I program, which will be released later by that institution. Ealy also announced that current Tusculum offensive coordinator Kyle Dickey will serve as interim head coach of the program while a national search is conducted for Odom's successor. Since becoming Tusculum's 16th head football coach, Odom led the Pioneers to the 2020 South Atlantic Conference Championship as well as a pair of SAC Mountain Division titles in 2020 and this past fall in 2023. His 42 wins are the third-most in the 75-season history of the program as only two of his eight campaigns experienced a losing season. He also went 32-25 in league play as his team's finished fourth or better in seven of his eight seasons with the Black & Orange. "I want to thank Jerry for his years of service to Tusculum and our football program. He has selflessly gone above and beyond to positively impact our campus community," said Ealy. "I know he will have success in this next phase of his coaching career. I also want to thank his wife Donna and sons, Reid and Clay for supporting our football student-athletes and staff over the years. Coach Odom will be greatly missed!" In his eight years in Greeneville, he mentored 55 All-South Atlantic Conference standouts, 11 All-Region performers and two All-Americans. Twenty-six (26) of his players garnered Academic All-District accolades including Academic All-Americans Andrew Cantrell, Jackson Cauthen and Evan Altizer. "The past eight years have been very special to me and to my family and I am proud of our program's many accomplishments during our time here," said Odom. "These were only made possible through the hard work and dedication of our student-athletes and coaches that took pride in representing Tusculum University. I want to thank my former boss Doug Jones and my current one, Josh Ealy, for all they have done for me both professionally and personally. TU will always have a place in my heart and I wish Pioneer Nation all the best in what I know will be a promising future." This past fall, the Pioneers went 6-5 which included a pair of victories over nationally-ranked teams including 24th-ranked Wingate and a 29-27 double-overtime win over No. 25 Mars Hill to capture the SAC Mountain Division crown and earn a berth to the SAC Championship game. TU finished with six conference wins for a second straight season as the Pioneers led the league with 17 interceptions (13th in NCAA II) while TU's 22 turnovers gained were second in the SAC and 40th in the nation. Defensively, Tusculum averaged 3.36 sacks per game which were sixth most in the country while on special teams, the Pioneers recorded four blocked punts (1st in SAC / 8th in NCAA II). Odom played collegiately at Florida where he was a four-year letterman at inside linebacker for the Gators from 1987-1990. He started in every game in his junior and senior campaigns on a defense that was among the nation's top-five in total defense in 1988, 1989 and 1990. He was an All-SEC Freshman Team selection in 1987 and was tabbed to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 1990 while also serving as the Gators' team captain. Odom graduated from Florida in 1991 while majoring in health and human performance with a minor in education. He is married to the former Donna Carter of Charleston, South Carolina and they are the parents of two sons, Reid and Clay. .
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Post by The Cats on Dec 8, 2023 20:03:03 GMT -5
His career....
In his seven seasons in Greeneville, he has mentored 46 All-South Atlantic Conference standouts and 10 All-Region performers including 2016 SAC Defensive Freshman of the Year Jay Boyd, who also garnered All-America distinction in his rookie campaign. Twenty-one (21) of his players garnered Academic All-District accolades including Evan Altizer, who was an Academic All-America first team choice and was also tabbed the 2017 SAC Football Scholar Athlete of the Year. Altizer was later recognized with the league’s top student-athlete honor as he was chosen as the 2017-2018 recipient of the SAC Presidents Award. All-SAC punter Andrew Cantrell earned Academic All-America laurels in his final three seasons (2020, 2021, 2022).
Odom, a native of Merritt Island, Florida, served six seasons as the associate head coach at NCAA-FCS Jacksonville University from 2010-2015 where he was the chief architect of some of the best defensive units in JU history. Odom helped guide the Dolphins to 47-19 overall record, including a pair of 9-2 campaigns in his last two years at JU.
In 2015, his defense led the nation for a second consecutive year with 20 interceptions, while also forcing 10 fumbles resulting in 30 turnovers gained, the third-best tally in the country. The Dolphins finished 2015 ranked 11th in team tackles for loss, 11th in team sacks (33), 12th in passing efficiency defense (104.7), 15th in scoring defense (19.1 ppg), 17th in red zone defense (68.4%), 23rd in total defense (326.2 ypg) and 23rd in rushing defense (127.4 ypg).
In 2014, Odom’s defense led the country with 24 interceptions and was the Pioneer League statistical champion for scoring defense (17.5 ppg – 6th in NCAA-FCS), passing efficiency defense (98.9 – 3rd in NCAA-FCS) and turnovers gained (33 – 2nd in NCAA-FCS). The Dolphins were also nationally-ranked in total defense (334.5 ypg – 23rd in NCAA-FCS) and rushing defense (135.9 ypg – 19th in NCAA-FCS).
During his tenure at Jacksonville, 47 defensive players earned All-Conference recognition, including a Pioneer League-best 10 honorees in 2015.
Prior to joining the JU staff, Odom was the associate head coach and special teams coordinator with the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League from 2008-2009. The Soul tied the AFL single-season wins record with 17 victories, while capturing the world championship.
Odom was also the head coach at Coffee County High School in Douglas, Georgia from 2005-2007. His teams posted a 22-12 record for the best three-year run in school history. After going 4-6 in his first season, the Trojans put together back-to-back nine-win campaigns for the first time ever. For his efforts, he was named the 2006 Region 1-5A Coach of the Year, which has been recognized as the toughest high school football region in the country by USA Today.
From 2003-2005, Odom was the defensive coordinator/special teams coordinator at East Carolina University. While at the Greenville, North Carolina program, ECU led Conference USA in kickoff returns, punt returns and kickoff coverage. While with the Pirates, Odom also recruited the likes of running back Chris Johnson, who went on to become the NFL’s leading rusher in 2009 with the Tennessee Titans.
From 2000-2002, he served as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at the University of Florida as Odom helped lead the Gators to a top-10 ranking in total defense in each of his three seasons in Gainesville. He mentored All-Southeastern Conference linebacker Andra Davis, who finished as a national semifinalist for the 2001 Butkus Award. His linebacker corps sparked a Gator defense that was ranked 18th nationally. Florida went 28-10 during that three-year span, including a 10-3 record while capturing the 2000 SEC Championship and advanced to the Sugar Bowl. The 2001 team went 10-2 and knocked off Maryland in the Orange Bowl. Florida finished 8-5 the next year and earned a bid to the Outback Bowl.
Odom played collegiately at Florida where he was a four-year letterman at inside linebacker for the Gators from 1987-1990. He started in every game in his junior and senior campaigns on a defense that was among the nation’s top-five in total defense in 1988, 1989 and 1990. His senior squad tied for first place in the 1990 SEC standings with a 9-2 record as he led the Gators in tackles for a second consecutive season while earning All-SEC third team honors.
He was an All-SEC Freshman Team selection in 1987 and was tabbed to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 1990 while also serving as the Gators’ team captain.
Odom served as a graduate assistant coach on the Florida staff in 1991 as the Gators won the SEC Championship with a 10-2 record and played in the Sugar Bowl.
He has coached at various high schools in Florida and also served as a graduate assistant at Texas Christian University under Pat Sullivan.
From 1992-1998, Odom played professionally with the AFL’s Orlando Predators for seven seasons as a linebacker/running back. He helped the Predators to four Arena Bowl appearances (1992, 1994, 1995, 1998) and won the title in 1998. He retired as Orlando’s career rushing yardage leader and ranked fifth in AFL history.
Odom graduated from Florida in 1991 while majoring in health and human performance with a minor in education.
He is married to the former Donna Carter of Charleston, South Carolina and they are the parents of two sons, Reid and Clay.
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Post by catamountalum04 on Dec 8, 2023 20:17:50 GMT -5
seems like a good one
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Catback
Redshirt Freshman
The 2022-23 SoCon Football Pick'em Champion
Posts: 471
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Post by Catback on Dec 8, 2023 21:18:07 GMT -5
We will win 2 or 3 games next year that we would not have without this new coach. Great hire!
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Post by catamountalum04 on Dec 8, 2023 21:52:39 GMT -5
now i would be over the moon if we had not lost our RB 1 and WR 1 in the same day. Worried what we will have on the offense side next year
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Post by catamountalum04 on Dec 8, 2023 21:53:02 GMT -5
i wonder if we will have a scheme change
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Post by retiredcat on Dec 9, 2023 9:34:05 GMT -5
I played high school football in Florida against his Dad (Gerald). A great football family with a high coaching pedigree. I'm sure Coach Bell and Coach Odom are very connected through the Florida Gators, Jacksonville U. and Tusculum.
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Post by wcu77 on Dec 9, 2023 9:46:15 GMT -5
I'm glad the hire happened so quickly and there will not be a big lapse trying to hire someone and he can get right to work on his defensive plans. It does look like a very good hire so I hope we see some very needed improvements on defense.
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Post by FLCATAMOUNT on Dec 9, 2023 14:47:57 GMT -5
I'm glad the hire happened so quickly and there will not be a big lapse trying to hire someone and he can get right to work on his defensive plans. It does look like a very good hire so I hope we see some very needed improvements on defense. If I were a betting man, I would say this agreement to hire Coach Odom was a done deal before Coach Scales was let go. I hope Coach Scales lands in a good place. By all accounts he is a great person that cared about his players. I hate it when anyone is let go.
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