Reports: USU Hires UMBC’s Ryan Odom as its new Men’s Basketball Coach

Utah State University has found its next men’s basketball coach. 

First reported by Brian Phillips of 247 sports, Ryan Odom — the head coach of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County — will assume the same position in Cache Valley. 

https://twitter.com/BrianPhillipsa1/status/1379125828550754306

An hour later, the news was confirmed by the university.

OUR GUY ➡️ @Coachryanodom

Welcome to the @USUBasketball family coach! Ready to keep this #SpectrumMagic rolling! #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/ETc1npigYT

— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) April 5, 2021

“We are beyond excited to announce Ryan Odom as Utah State’s new men’s basketball head coach,” said USU athletic director John Hartwell. “We had great interest from many qualified candidates and Ryan quickly distinguished himself as the clear choice. Ryan has a proven track record of accomplishments with his student-athletes, both in the classroom and on the court, and we are confident he will continue to elevate the success of our Aggie basketball program.”

“My family and I are thrilled to be joining Utah State University and the Cache Valley community,” said Odom. “With President (Noelle) Cockett and Vice President John Hartwell, there is an outstanding foundation and great leadership, and I can’t tell you how excited we are to experience ‘The HURD,’ and build upon the storied history and recent success of Aggie basketball.”

In the 2018 NCAA tournament, Odom famously led No. 16 seeded UMBC to a 74-54 victory over No. 1 seeded Virginia, the first and only 16 seed to defeat a No.1 seed in March Madness history. 

Beyond that iconic victory, Odom has helped the Golden Retrievers reach unparalleled success during his 5-year tenure in Baltimore, compiling a record of 97-60 (.618) and achieving four 20-plus win seasons. 

In the 2020-21 season, UMBC went 14-6 and 10-4 in conference play to claim a share of the American East regular-season title. 

Finishing 2021 ranked No. 169 in the Ken Pom rankings, Odom led a balanced team that finished third in the American East in both offensive efficiency (99.8) and defensive efficiency (95.1). 

Odom will be tasked with building off the success that former Aggie head coach Craig Smith built in three years at USU, where he led the program to three NCAA tournament births, two Mountain West tournament championships, and produced two NBA prospects in Sam Merrill and Neemias Queta. 

Being a proven winner, USU athletic director John Hartwell believes Odom is the man fit for the job. 

Prior to UMBC, he spent a year as head coach of Divison Two Lenior-Rhyme and led the program to a 21-10 record and its first regional finals appearance in school history. 

After UMBC went 7-25 in the 2015-16 season, Odom was hired and led the Golden Retrievers to a 21-13 record in the 2016-17 season, the first winning season for the program since 2007-08. 

From 2010-15, he was an assistant coach at UNC Charlotte, and inherited the program’s interim head coach job in 2015, compiling an 8-11 record. He was an assistant at Virginia Tech from 2003-10 under Seth Greenberg. 

Before the Hokies, Odom had assistant coaching stints at American (2000-03), UNC Asheville (1999-00), and Furman (1997-99). He played college basketball at division three Hampden-Sydney, graduating in 1996.