Ryan Odom’s homecoming story at Virginia took another heartwarming turn, as the new head coach revealed his ambitious plans to strengthen bonds with former Cavaliers players. The announcement came during a recent interview where Odom outlined his vision for connecting past and present.
The same coach who led UMBC to its historic upset over Virginia in 2018 now guides the Cavaliers program he once stunned. His unique perspective brings experience and deep emotional investment to their basketball program.
Odom Announces Major Alumni Initiative
Speaking about his commitment to honoring Virginia’s basketball legacy, Odom shared details about a planned virtual gathering. “We’re doing a former player zoom this week on June 4, and we’ll have over 100 players on that Zoom that gave everything they had to this place,” Odom revealed.
In 2018, Ryan Odom led UMBC to a historical upset of Virginia in the NCAA Tournament.
Seven years later, he’s the Cavaliers’ head coach.
So, what’s his relationship like with Tony Bennett? pic.twitter.com/7tGAM7lU3F
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 5, 2025
The comprehensive outreach effort demonstrates Odom’s understanding of Virginia basketball’s rich history and his respect for those who built the program’s foundation. This initiative reflects his broader philosophy of connecting generations of Cavaliers who contributed to the university’s basketball success.
Building Bridges Across Eras
Odom emphasized the importance of maintaining connections with Virginia’s basketball alumni community. “We want to make sure that we’re continuing to connect and tighten our group up because we really do have a special thing here at Virginia” he explained during the interview.
His approach recognizes that successful programs are built on relationships beyond current rosters. By bringing together over 100 former players, Odom is creating a network to support current and future Cavaliers on and off the court.
The new head coach’s vision extends to honoring all contributors to Virginia basketball’s legacy. Speaking about Tony Bennett and previous coaches, Odom noted, “Coaches come and go, right, and he did so much for this place and so did others as well that came before him. So, we want to honor everybody that has meant so much to this place.”
Strengthening Virginia’s Basketball Family
This alumni initiative represents more than just nostalgia. It’s strategic relationship building. Former players often become valuable mentors and ambassadors for their programs. Odom’s proactive approach to engaging this community shows his understanding of college basketball’s interconnected nature.
The timing of this announcement is particularly significant as Odom begins building his program following Tony Bennett’s unexpected retirement. Appointed on March 21, 2025, the new coach is creating a support system that can help strengthen the program from his earliest days in charge.
KEEP READING: UVA Basketball Transfer Portal: Full List of Players Entering and Exiting
This comprehensive alumni engagement strategy and his aggressive roster rebuilding through the transfer portal demonstrate Odom’s approach to revitalizing Virginia basketball. He’s simultaneously honoring the past while preparing for the future, creating unity among generations of Cavaliers who share a common bond through their experience.
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