Purdue officially hires UNLV's Barry Odom as head coach

Purdue is officially hiring UNLV’s Barry Odom as the program’s next head coach. On3 reported on Sunday morning that Odom had emerged as the top target in the search.

The former Missouri head coach is 19-8 in two seasons with the Rebels, leading them to a Mountain West title game appearance this season. The hire comes a week after the Boilermakers fired head coach Ryan Walters, who went 5-19 in his tenure in West Lafayette. Odom brings previous SEC head coaching experience and a recent track record of winning with him to Purdue.

“This is an exciting day as we announce head coach Barry Odom as the new leader of the Purdue Boilermakers,” Purdue athletic director Mike Bobinski said in a statement. “As both a leader and person, Coach Odom personifies the qualities that our football program and university value. During our interactions with Coach Odom, it became clear that he possesses the belief, tenacity and competitive drive necessary to return Purdue Football to the standard of excellence we all expect.”

Landing Odom is a win for Purdue, as the head coach was also involved in head coaching searches at UCF and West Virginia. The Boilermakers went 1-11 in 2024 and finished the season with 11 consecutive losses, with the only win coming against Western Illinois.

The Purdue job is arguably more attractive than ever before with its membership in the Big Ten. Plus, Odom will take over the Purdue program as revenue sharing is set to kick in on July 1, 2025. Schools will be allowed to share $20.5 million in revenue, with $14 to $17 million expected to be allocated to football.

With a defensive coordinator background, Odom will need to hire a splashy offensive coordinator. Brennan Marion is currently the UNLV offensive coordinator, where his Go-Go Offense averaged 425.8 yards and 36.2 points per game.

Odom, 48, was head coach at Missouri from 2016 to 2019, going 25-25 overall and 13-19 in the SEC and going to two bowls. UNLV’s 10-3 record in 2024 is the best in program history since 1974 when the Rebels were in Division II.

Purdue will need to try and retain its roster. As of Sunday morning, 21 Purdue players have entered the transfer portal. College football’s free agency officially begins on Monday, Dec. 9.

“It is with tremendous honor and gratitude that I accept this opportunity to serve as the head football coach at Purdue University,” Odom said. “To coach at an institution like Purdue, in a community like Greater Lafayette and for a proud, tradition-rich and hungry football program like the Boilermakers is a dream come true for me and my family.

“… Their trust will be rewarded with a football program that will reflect the personality and excellence that Purdue is widely known for; character, intensity and a no-excuses winning attitude will be the foundation of what we will build at Purdue, and I can assure you it will be built to last. Most of all, my family cannot wait to become Boilermakers.”