CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Ryan Odom, whose early life was steeped in Virginia basketball traditions, is now stepping into the role of revitalizing the Cavaliers’ prominence in national basketball. “This is where my love for basketball was born,” said Odom during his introductory presentation on Monday. “Here is where I was shaped in countless ways.”
Having spent parts of his childhood in Charlottesville, Odom’s connection to the area is deeply rooted. His father, Dave Odom, served on the coaching staff of Virginia’s coach Terry Holland between 1982 and 1989. During those years, young Ryan became a familiar face around the program, even appearing on the camp brochure cover and working as a ballboy.
Monday’s announcement marked a festive return for Odom, complete with fans, pep bands, and cheerleaders, as he was officially ushered in as Virginia’s new head coach, succeeding Tony Bennett, who famously led the team to a national championship victory in 2019. That triumph was especially notable for occurring a year after a stunning loss when Odom’s UMBC team made history by defeating Virginia as a 16-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Odom expressed readiness to face the demanding task ahead, following in the footsteps of a legendary figure like Bennett. “I’m at peace. This isn’t something I fear. If I did, I wouldn’t be here today,” he stated confidently.
Virginia’s interim coach, Ron Sanchez, who stepped in following Bennett’s unexpected retirement shortly before the season commenced, was not retained following a 15-17 record.
Despite Odom’s ties to the Charlottesville community possibly aiding his candidacy, Virginia athletic director Carla Williams emphasized that his selection was due to more than just his history or proximity coaching VCU in Richmond over the last two years. With an impressive coaching record of 221-127 over eleven years, Odom’s adaptability and character were deemed aptly suited for steering the Cavaliers.
“We grant him our confidence to lead this program forward,” Williams remarked, underscoring the significant trust associated with Virginia’s storied basketball history.
Odom led VCU to a stunning 28-7 season, seizing the Atlantic 10 title, and taking them to yet another NCAA Tournament. Previously, he brought UMBC and Utah State to the March Madness stage as well. This year, VCU’s season concluded with a first-round defeat to BYU.
Virginia wasted no time after the NCAA transfer portal opened, securing Odom’s hiring announcement over the weekend. While the specifics of Odom’s contract are still being finalized, the assurance was given that key members of his VCU coaching staff, including Matt Henry and Bryce Crawford, plan to join him. Additionally, Virginia will continue with its longstanding strength and conditioning coach, Mike Curtis.
Griff Aldrich, another of Odom’s longstanding associates, stepped down from Longwood to become the associate head coach at Virginia.
Odom entered the John Paul Jones Arena to raucous applause, even as memories of Virginia’s historic defeat lingered among fans. He chose not to mention that monumental game, instead emphasizing his enduring bond with the Virginia program and staff who influenced him in his youth.
Jim Larrañaga, another key figure in Virginia’s basketball legacy and former colleague of Odom’s father, reminisced about the young Odom’s perpetual presence at practices. His impressions have transitioned from childhood memories to recognizing Odom’s formidable skill as a coach, particularly after a hard-fought game against VCU this past season.
Odom’s track record includes serving as an interim coach for Charlotte and leading Lenoir-Rhyne, carving out a reputation as a coach capable of elevating teams to achieving over 20 wins in most of his seasons. Nonetheless, he still carries the widespread recognition as the architect behind Virginia’s historic tournament upset.
As he embarks on this new chapter, Odom hopes to redefine his legacy, much as Bennett did, by aiming for continued excellence and success within the Cavaliers program.