The first major college football head coaching job has been filled by none other than Barry Odom, the now former UNLV coach.
Odom began the 2024 season in a hot way with a big win over a then-ranked Kansas Jayhawks squad, but quickly found himself in the midst of controversy.
Quarterback Matthew Sluka announced he would redshirt the rest of the 2024 season and effectively leave the Rebels program following alleged issues involving NIL payments. Sluka, his family, and his agent alleged that Odom and the Rebels had promised a far different amount of money than the amount the quarterback was set to receive during his time with the Rebels.
However, Odom overcame the controversy and led the Rebels to another conference championship berth in his two seasons as the head coach which was a rather impressive accomplishment. The coach is scheduled to finish his UNLV Rebels tenure with 19-8 record and just three conference losses in his two seasons with the program.
Odom previously did not escape the Missouri Tigers coaching job without controversy either, as the Tigers vacated four wins and earned a bowl ban during the 2019 season. Odom was the defensive coordinator of the Tigers before stepping into the head coaching role during the 2016 season, where Missouri won just four games, which have since been vacated.
An NCAA investigation revealed that the Tigers and Odom had committed academic fraud by allowing students to utilize a tutor who would in turn take tests for the athletes, which resulted in a subsequent bowl ban in 2019.
The return to a head coaching role with UNLV ignited the career of Odom once again, which has now led to the coach accepting the potentially lucrative Purdue Boilermakers job moving forward. Purdue has had an awful past few seasons even with arguably solid tools on the field, which has been a disappointment for both college football and Purdue fans as well.
College Football Fans React to Purdue Boilermakers Hire of Barry Odom
As the college football landscape has continued to shift, Purdue has failed to adjust while Odom has been someone who has embraced many of the changes occurring across college football. The new hire is arguably a great one for Purdue, but one that has much of the college football world questioning the move.
What a terrible move by him
— Official Ohio State DG (@DylanEveryday) December 8, 2024
Wow! Great for @B1Gfootball
— Ohio X’s and O’s 🏈 (@OhioXsAndOs) December 8, 2024
Wow UNLV lost the champ game twice, didn’t take the Pac12 invite and now lost its coach. This program constantly loses.
— Eyes Forward ✌🏽 (@smurfturf27) December 8, 2024
Damn! He made the @unlvfootball program great again! But good luck coach!
— David Benjamin (@thetoyman1) December 8, 2024
Unlv should have offered more money. He was really building something
— Ryan Hillstead (@Ryanhillstead84) December 8, 2024
Brennan Marion should be promoted to HC at UNLV within the hour
— Texian (@Horns365247) December 8, 2024
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