Missouri announced Thursday night that it has hired Barry Odom, a longtime Tigers assistant, to replace Gary Pinkel as the program's new football coach.
Odom, who according to the school agreed to a five-year deal, will be announced as coach at a Friday press conference and have his contract approved by the MU Board of Curators next week.
"I'm tremendously honored to have this opportunity," Odom said in a statement released by the school. "It's something I've thought about for a long time as I've made my various stops leading up to this point. I understand the responsibility we have to not only carry on the tradition of excellence that Gary Pinkel has built here, but also to help this program reach new heights. Mizzou means the world to me and to my family, and we couldn't be more proud and excited to be in this position."
After spending four years at Mizzou as a linebacker (1996-99), Odom was hired in an administrative capacity (2003-08), and then moved into coaching as an assistant under Pinkel (2009-11). After a total of nine seasons under Pinkel, he spent 2012-14 as defensive coordinator at Memphis, which also considered him for its opening, but returned to Mizzou to hold the same post under Pinkel in 2015
"We are extremely excited to announce Barry Odom as the new leader of the Mizzou football program," athletic director Mack Rhoades said in a statement. "Coach Odom was the clear choice to serve as our next coach. He is a man of high integrity and possesses all the qualities you look for in a successful head coach. He has an undeniable passion for Mizzou, a strong track-record of success at each level of his career and a clear vision to mentor our student-athletes and lead our program to even greater heights."
