Ryan Odom is speaking the local language again.
The first-year University of Virginia men’s basketball coach, who spent a chunk of his childhood in Charlottesville while his father, Dave, served on the Cavaliers’ staff from 1982 to 1989, surprised himself during a Tuesday news conference at John Paul Jones Arena.
When detailing how he likes to tour his players around Grounds, Odom stumbled in naming a familiar road – before nailing it.
Odom answers a question during Tuesday’s news conference at John Paul Jones Arena. The first-year UVA coach has a unique challenge this summer, trying to mesh a new team together. (Photo by Jamie Holt, UVA Athletics)
“You can drive this place pretty quickly and get a sense of how close things really are,” Odom said. “And I know there’s some construction going on as you head over toward Scott Stadium … what is that? Jefferson Park? … JPA, right?”
He paused, allowing reporters in the room to confirm he had, indeed, properly used the common slang for Jefferson Park Avenue.
“It’s coming back,” he quipped with a grin.
While Odom is reacquainting himself with UVA, many of his players are getting to know the University – and all its surrounding streets – for the first time.
The Wahoos’ 2025-26 roster features 11 new players and only three returnees – Elijah Gertude, Carter Lang and Desmond Roberts – a significant change reflective of the coaching transition at UVA following Tony Bennett’s sudden retirement last fall.
Devin Tillis, a Los Angeles native and graduate transfer from the University of California, Irvine, is adapting quickly to his new home in Charlottesville. “It’s so beautiful here,” he said. “There’s great people. Everybody’s super nice.” (Photo by Jamie Holt, UVA Athletics)
It’s created a few tasks for Odom and his staff to begin conquering this summer. As much as the coach is helping his players quickly form bonds with one another, he’s equally as passionate about them developing a deep sense of appreciation for where they stand.
“Introducing them to the history of this place is really important,” he said. “Not only on the basketball side, which we’ve done, but the overall history of this place and what it means to be a Virginia basketball player … and a Virginia student-athlete.”
The bulk of the new team – seven transfers and two freshmen mixed with the returnees – began practicing together for the first time last month, while other additions continue to roll in. Tuesday morning, assistant coach Matt Henry welcomed Johann Grünloh, a 7-foot freshman from Germany, to Charlottesville with a trip to the Lawn.
“We want to expose them to all that this place has to offer because regardless of the professional aspect of this,” Odom said, noting the changing landscape of college athletics, “those institutional things cannot change, and we want to make sure that the people who choose to come here value that.”
Ralph Sampson and Rick Carlisle, shining examples of the UVA experience, have been among the notable alumni who have already spoken to the Cavaliers. Carlisle, who coaches the Indiana Pacers, was on Grounds a few days after leading his team in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
[Ryan Odom]
I want you guys to meet … obviously, you know who these guys are, but we’re really blessed.
[Rick Carlisle]
All I want to say to you guys, this place changed my life. It changed my life. And 40 years later … I’ve been so blessed. I’ve had a 41-year career in the NBA.
This place is special, treat it that way and lean into the educational aspect of this. This is one of the greatest educational institutions in the entire world.
You’re wearing this uniform now, you stand for something. You stand for playing hard, playing together, doing your schoolwork and winning. We expect that from you guys.
Our predecessors, it was always important to us to carry the torch that they handed to us. And in today’s world of fleeting stuff, year to year, stuff like that, you guys should try to lean into this and be here for the duration. I’ll promise you it’ll change your life the way it changed mine and all of ours.
[Odom]
All right, let’s bring it in. Together on 3, together!
“They talked about how meaningful the community at Virginia is,” said Devin Tillis, a graduate transfer from the University of California, Irvine, who’s pursuing his certificate in UVA’s intercollegiate athletics administration program. “Obviously, they give us knowledge about basketball and stuff like that, but really, what they touched on the most is being able to give back to this community and represent this community at a high level, as Virginia has been high-level in everything they’ve done for decades.
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