- Program
- Purdue
- Level
- FBS
- In Role Since
- 2024
- Conference
- Big Ten
- Education
- University of Missouri (B.S., 1999); University of Missouri (M.S., 2004)
Profile
Barry Odom was introduced as Purdue’s 38th head coach on Dec. 8, 2024 and entered his second season leading the Boilermakers in 2026. His staff’s 2026 portal class was reported as a Top 25 national class and fourth in the Big Ten entering the 2026 campaign. In Year 1 at Purdue he coached seven all-conference honorees, including Mani Powell—who led the Big Ten in tackling in conference games—and oversaw punter Jack McCallister’s second-team All-Big Ten season and kicker Spencer Porath’s program-record single-season field goal percentage. Odom arrived from UNLV, where he compiled a 19-8 record and led the Rebels to back-to-back Mountain West Championship Game appearances in two seasons.
Coaching Approach
Defensive-first head-coaching with a measurable special teams emphasis: has served as defensive coordinator at Memphis and Arkansas (unit improvements cited in source text) and prioritized special teams at Purdue where a punter and kicker earned All-Big Ten honors and a kicker set a single-season program field-goal percentage record.
Career Highlights
- Named Purdue head coach on Dec. 8, 2024 (38th head coach in program history)
- Staff’s 2026 portal class ranked Top 25 nationally and fourth in the Big Ten (source text)
- Coached seven Boilermakers to all-conference honors in his first season, including Mani Powell who led the Big Ten in tackling in conference games (source text)
Sources
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