Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Neill McGeachy has announced the hiring of Ryan Odom as its new head men’s basketball coach. Odom is the 17th head coach in school history.
In May of 2014, Odom was elevated to Associate Head Coach at Charlotte. On January 6, 2015, Odom was named head coach for the interim at Charlotte for the remainder of the season.
Odom led the 49ers to eight victories as mentor and coached Torin Dorn to Conference USA Freshman-Of-The-Year honors and Pierria Henry to third-team all-league accolades.
Before his promotions prior to last season, Odom was an Assistant Coach for Charlotte for four years (2010-14). The 49ers earned a bid to the NIT in 2013.
Prior to Charlotte, Odom spent seven years on the coaching staff at Virginia Tech as an assistant and was part of a Hokies’ team which earned a berth to the NCAA Division I Tournament in 2007 and beat Illinois in the first round.
Odom was also an assistant coach at American (2000-03), UNC Asheville (1999-00) and Furman (1997-99) and served one year as an administrative assistant at South Florida (1996-97).
Odom graduated from Hampden-Sydney in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and was a four-year starting point guard on the men’s basketball team.
Odom served as team captain his senior season and led Hampden-Sydney to an 80-30 record during his playing career including two berths in the NCAA Division III Tournament. In addition, Odom finished his career as the school’s all-time leader in three-pointers made and fourth in assists.
Odom takes over for John Lentz, who resigned after 29 years as Bears’ mentor in late April. Ryan Odom is also the son of Dave Odom, who retired in 2008 as the head coach at South Carolina.

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Photo Courtesy Lenoir-Rhyne Athletics