New FSM Feature: UNLV's Future After Barry Odom Leaves For Purdue - Bonus Team Notes

FSM Feature: UNLV’s Future After Barry Odom Leaves For Purdue

Franchise Sports Media

UNLV’s is now looking for a new head coach after Barry Odom departs for Purdue. Who could be targeted and where does UNLV go from here?

On Sunday, UNLV head football coach Barry Odom, fresh off a 10-win season and back-to-back Mountain West championship games, accepted the Purdue head coaching job. Coach Odom will not coach the Rebels in the LA Bowl on December 18th at Sofi Stadium when they take on the Cal Bears.

Coach Odom cemented himself unarguably as the best coach in UNLV history in two short seasons. He guided one of the greatest resurgences in college football over the past two seasons, leading UNLV to its most wins in over 40 years.

According to sources with knowledge of the situation, Coach Odom agreed to a deal that more than tripled his salary with UNLV with a guarantee that far exceeded anything that UNLV could offer. While Coach Odom wanted to stay in Las Vegas, there truly was an offer that he couldn’t refuse.

Odom has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments throughout his coaching career, starting in the SEC at Missouri and then with UNLV. With the Rebels, he won 19 games in two seasons. He also led them to back-to-back bowl game appearances for the first time in UNLV history. 

Odom leaves UNLV to become the 38th head coach in Purdue history. His overall head coaching record is 43-32, as he now looks to remake the Boiler Makers in his image. 

UNLV has named wide receivers coach Del Alexander as their interim head coach for their upcoming bowl game. Athletic Director Erick Harper now leads the search for another head coach just two seasons after hiring Odom.

So Who Could Be On The List To Be The Next Head Coach?

UNLV will be a hot commodity, although the timing isn’t the best. With the transfer portal opening on Monday, the Rebels must move quickly to hire a new head coach.

Harper, when addressing the media on Sunday, said that he’s already heard from head coaches and coordinators from both the NFL and college ranks. 

Who are some of the names that might be interested in the Rebels‘ new opening for a head coach? Well, none of these names have been officially confirmed, but there are a few names that you should keep an eye on.

They are broken up into former head coaches who now are available, as well as coordinators who have gained interest in numerous head coaching vacancies that are open during this head coaching cycle.

Former head coaches:

Nick Rolovich – Former Head Coach Hawai’i & Washington State

Pat Fitzgerald – Former Head Coach Northwestern

Rich Rodriguez – Head Coach Jacksonville State

Neal Brown – Former Head Coach West Virginia

Coordinators:

Kane Wommack – Defensive Coordinator Alabama/Former South Alabama Head Coach

Buster Faulkner – Offensive Coordinator Georgia Tech

Glenn Schumann – Defensive Coordinator Georgia

Jim Knowles – Defensive Coordinator Ohio State

Jake Spavital – Offensive Coordinator Baylor

Justin Johnson – Assistant head coach, Offensive passing game coordinator and wide receivers Texas Tech

Mike Denbrock – Offensive Coordinator Notre Dame

Andy Kotelnicki – Offensive Coordinator Penn State

Tony White – Defensive Coordinator Florida State

UNLV Athletic Director Erick Harper hit a home run when he hired Barry Odom. He can’t afford to hit anything less this time around after the rebels found success being ranked in the top 25 as well as playing in back-to-back bowl games. 

Harper and UNLV are now on the clock. 

Make sure you keep coming back to FSM for all your UNLV coverage. Thanks for visiting FranchiseSportsMedia.com for your Las Vegas Sports news today.

Franchise Sports Media. Las Vegas sports news about Las Vegas Sports teams.

– Joe Arrigo – Franchise Sports Media

Follow Joe on all social media: @joearrigofsm

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