College basketball had a major shake-up involving a familiar name taking the reins at Virginia. Ryan Odom, best known for orchestrating one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history, has been hired as the Cavaliers’ new head coach.
The former VCU coach officially signed his contract on Friday, March 21, with Virginia set to announce the move the following day. With Odom stepping into a program that has seen remarkable highs and recent struggles, the question is: can he restore UVA’s dominance?
Ryan Odom’s Coaching Journey Leading, His Connection to Virginia
Odom arrives in Virginia with a strong coaching résumé and a personal connection to the program. At 50, he has already taken three different schools to the NCAA Tournament—UMBC, Utah State, and most recently, VCU.
His latest stint with the Rams saw him lead the team to a 28-7 overall record and an Atlantic 10 Tournament title, earning an automatic bid to March Madness. Unfortunately, their run was short-lived as they fell to No. 6 seed BYU in the first round.
Before VCU, Odom made waves at Utah State, where he guided the Aggies to an NCAA Tournament appearance in just his second season. However, his most famous coaching accomplishment came in 2018 when he led the No. 16 seed UMBC Retrievers to a historic first-round victory over No. 1 seed Virginia.
This upset will forever be etched in college basketball history. Ironically, he now finds himself in charge of the program he once stunned.
But Odom’s ties to Virginia run even more profound. His father, Dave Odom, was an assistant coach at UVA from 1982 to 1989 under Terry Holland before taking over as Wake Forest’s head coach. Growing up around the Cavaliers, Odom served as a ball boy at University Hall and later played college basketball at Hampden-Sydney College, just a short drive from Charlottesville.
Ryan Odom’s Coaching Background
Odom’s coaching career started in the late 1990s as a graduate assistant at South Florida. Over the years, he climbed the ranks as an assistant at Furman, UNC Asheville, American University, Virginia Tech, and Charlotte. His first head coaching job came in 2015 at Lenoir-Rhyne, where he spent one season before taking over at UMBC.
At Virginia, Odom is stepping into a unique challenge. The program is just five months removed from the departure of Tony Bennett, the school’s all-time winningest coach. Bennett’s decision to step away just before the season left Virginia scrambling, leading to the appointment of interim coach Ron Sanchez.
The Cavaliers struggled, finishing the 2024-2025 season with a 15-17 record and placing ninth in the ACC—their worst finish since Bennett’s first year in 2009-2010. Odom’s task is straightforward: bring Virginia back to national prominence.
Virginia remains the most recent ACC team to win a national championship, with their thrilling 2019 title run still fresh in fans’ memories. However, success has been harder to come by since then. The Cavaliers have won two ACC regular-season titles and made three NCAA Tournament appearances in the post-championship years. However, they have failed to win a single game in March Madness during that span.
One of his first major tasks will be rebuilding the roster. With the transfer portal opening on March 24, Odom must move quickly to retain key players, recruit new talent, and finalize his coaching staff.
It’s widely expected that several members of his VCU staff will join him in Charlottesville. His experience in player development and offensive-minded approach could bring new life into a Virginia program traditionally known for its methodical, defense-first style under Bennett.
KEEP READING: Who Is Ryan Odom’s Dad? Meet Former South Carolina’s Coach Dave Odom
Odom’s hire signals a potential shift in philosophy. While Bennett’s teams were built on the “Pack-Line” defense, Odom is known for his dynamic offensive sets and ability to adapt his strategies to fit his roster. It will be interesting to see how he balances his preferred up-tempo approach with the defensive identity ingrained in Virginia basketball.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, basketball, and more!
