Barry Odom announced as next head football coach at Purdue
Purdue officially announced on Sunday the hiring of Barry Odom as its’ new head football coach. Odom spent the last two seasons at UNLV, going 19-8 overall including a 10-3 record in 2024. He previously spent four seasons as head coach at his alma mater, Missouri.
“This is an exciting day as we announce head coach Barry Odom as the new leader of the Purdue Boilermakers,” said AD Mike Bobinski. “As both a leader and person, Coach Odom personifies the qualities that our football program and university value. During our interactions with Coach Odom, it became clear that he possesses the belief, tenacity and competitive drive necessary to return Purdue Football to the standard of excellence we all expect. He is a proven and experienced leader who has brought success to two different football programs and has made an impact on the lives of countless student-athletes and staff throughout his football career, including during his time as a standout defensive coordinator and position coach at Missouri, Memphis and Arkansas.”
The OK-native played linebacker for Mizzou from 1996-99 and spent much of his coaching career there, culminating in a four-year stint as head coach. The Tigers went 25-25 over that span with two bowl appearances, both losses.
Odom then spent two seasons as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Arkansas before taking the UNLV job in 2022. He went 9-5 in his first season, a four-win improvement from the previous year, and then hit the 10-win mark this year with a bowl game pending. The Rebels finished second in the MWC, falling to Boise State in the league championship game on Friday.
“It is with tremendous honor and gratitude that I accept this opportunity to serve as the head football coach at Purdue University,” said Odom. “To coach at an institution like Purdue, in a community like Greater Lafayette and for a proud, tradition-rich and hungry football program like the Boilermakers is a dream come true for me and my family. I would like to thank Mike Bobinski for choosing me to lead Purdue Football, as well as extend my heartful thanks to University President Mung Chiang and Board Chair Mike Berghoff for their support. Their trust will be rewarded with a football program that will reflect the personality and excellence that Purdue is widely known for; character, intensity and a no-excuses winning attitude will be the foundation of what we will build at Purdue, and I can assure you it will be built to last. Most of all, my family cannot wait to become Boilermakers. We will get started in West Lafayette immediately.”
Purdue is coming off one of its worst seasons in recent history, finishing just 1-11 overall while falling to rival Indiana 66-0 a week ago. Second-year head coach Ryan Walters was let go the following day with a 5-19 overall record.
credit to Purdue Athletics for the image
