Ryan Odom takes over at Virginia, seeking to be remembered for more than that UMBC shocker

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Ryan Odom was raised on Virginia basketball. Now, he’s being tasked with raising the Cavaliers back among the national elite.

“This is the place that I fell in love with basketball,” the Cavaliers’ new coach said Monday during his introductory news conference. “This is the place where I was shaped in so many ways.”

Odom spent a good portion of his childhood in Charlottesville while his father, Dave, worked as an assistant for Virginia’s Terry Holland from 1982-89. Odom’s picture graced the cover of Holland’s camp one summer and Odom even served as a ballboy for the team.

On Monday, in a homecoming party replete with fans, the pep band and cheerleaders, Virginia introduced Odom as the permanent replacement for Tony Bennett, who led the program to its only national championship, in 2019.

That title came a year after one of the most stunning upsets in college basketball history. Odom’s Maryland-Baltimore County team beat Virginia in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament, becoming the first 16-seed to defeat a 1-seed.

“I feel very prepared to take on what everyone knows is a daunting task, following coach Bennett, following a legend,” Odom said. “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.”

Ron Sanchez, Virginia’s interim coach this year after Bennett’s surprise retirement three weeks before the season, went 15-17 and was not retained.

While Odom’s connection to Charlottesville certainly helped him as a candidate, Virginia athletic director Carla Williams made it clear Odom wasn’t simply the choice because of that, or the fact that, for the past two seasons, he’s been coaching an hour’s drive away at VCU in Richmond.

Williams said Odom’s proven track record as a head coach — he’s 221-127 over 11 years — combined with his character and adaptability, made him the right fit…

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Source link : https://www.nbcsports.com/mens-college-basketball/news/ryan-odom-takes-over-at-virginia-seeking-to-be-remembered-for-more-than-that-umbc-shocker

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Publish date : 2025-03-25 01:39:00

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