Before a crowd at John Paul Jones Arena that included representatives from multiple eras of University of Virginia men’s basketball, as well as President Jim Ryan and other UVA supporters, Ryan Odom was introduced Monday as the 13th head coach in program history.
“I’m so thankful to be home here at UVA,” Odom said. “I’m motivated to help continue to build this place.”
Here’s what to know about the proven winner with longstanding ties to the University.
From Ball Boy to Coach
Odom, 50, spent a chunk of his childhood in Charlottesville while his father, Dave, served as an assistant coach under Terry Holland from 1982 to 1989. The younger Odom would often get home from school and ride his bicycle to University Hall to watch the Cavaliers practice.
Odom is already envisioning what success will look like at John Paul Jones Arena. “I can’t wait to walk out of that tunnel with our team to a packed house on that first night,” he said. “Then when the victory happens, to get ‘The (Good) Old Song’ going, to put our arms around one another and get ready for the next one.” (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
Odom’s used to having a role on game days at UVA, as he once worked as the Wahoos’ ball boy.
“This is the place where I fell in love with basketball,” Odom said. “This is the place where I was shaped in so many ways by the former players, the former coaches. … More than anything, coach Holland allowed me and the others (children of UVA coaches) to be a part of something so special.”
For instance, getting the opportunity to hang out with three-time National Player of the Year Ralph Sampson. The 7-foot-4 Wahoo legend was in attendance Monday.
“We used to sit on Ralph’s knee,” Odom said.
Odom’s parents, including his mother, Lynn, sat in the front row Monday.
“I’m thankful for the decision that you made to bring us up here, Dad,” Odom said. “And, Mom, thank you for agreeing to go along on this ride.”
Yes, He Was the Coach for THAT Game
This is Odom’s fifth head coaching job over the last decade. In all previous four stints – Lenoir-Rhyne University (2015 to 2016); University of Maryland, Baltimore County (2016 to 2021); Utah State University (2021 to 2023); and Virginia Commonwealth University (2023 to 2025) – he led his team to at least one NCAA Tournament appearance.
UVA fans might recall his last win in the Big Dance. Yes, Odom was the architect of 16th-seeded UMBC’s upset of No. 1 Virginia in 2018. It was the first win for a No. 16 over a No. 1 in NCAA Tournament history.
Odom shares a hug with UVA President Jim Ryan as Director of Athletics Carla Williams awaits her embrace. “Thank you for the way that you handled this entire process, the respect that you gave it,” Odom said later of Ryan, Williams and Rector Robert Hardie. “There are many folks in our business that could be standing right here, and I appreciate the opportunity to be the one to do it, and I’m humbled to be here.” (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
It also served as the launching point for the Cavaliers’ 2019 redemption run to the national championship, the grand achievement of Tony Bennett’s remarkable 15-year career at UVA, where he became the program’s all-time winningest coach.
“I feel very prepared to take on what everyone knows is a daunting task,” Odom said. “Following coach Bennett, following a legend, I’ll be honest, I’m at peace with that. I’m not afraid of it. I wouldn’t be standing here if I was afraid of it.
“I’m going to need (Bennett), quite honestly.”
Odom said he and Bennett recently shared a great conversation.
Odom has won at least 24 games in each of the last three seasons, including a 28-7 mark at VCU this season stamped by Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament championships, and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
A Hampden-Sydney Hoo
Dave Odom became the head coach of Wake Forest University in 1989, meaning the family moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where Ryan finished high school.
Ryan returned to Virginia for college, however, where he starred as a basketball player for Hampden-Sydney College outside Farmville. A starting point guard and team captain, Odom finished his career as the Tigers’ all-time leader in 3-pointers made.
Odom acknowledged his college coach, Tony Shaver, who was in attendance Monday.
Williams, Hardie and Ryan usher in the Ryan Odom era at UVA. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
“He was an amazing mentor,” Odom said. “I learned so much from him.”
Odom graduated from Hampden-Sydney in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He worked for Bank of America in Charlotte before beginning his coaching career.
Defense Still Matters
Odom succeeds the Bennett era at UVA, where the Cavaliers regularly contended for Atlantic Coast Conference championships because of their defensive excellence.
Odom, whose VCU team led the Atlantic 10 in scoring defense this season, seems poised to continue that tradition. He just might execute it at a quicker pace.
“You’ve got to defend in order to win championships. …You have to be able to defend at the end of a (shot) clock,” he said. “You have to be able to rebound the basketball.
“Those are all things we emphasize every single day, but we certainly want to play fast in transition, and we want our guys to get out and run. That takes effort. That takes a level of conditioning and a standard that is excellent, and it’s tough to do.”
