Dave Odom Biography

The University of South Carolina's Dave Odom begins his third season with the 2003-04' season at the helm of the Gamecock's basketball program. Odom who enjoyed tremendous success in 12 years at Wake Forest left the Demon Deacons to take on the challenge of building South Carolina's basketball program into a perennial powerhouse as he did at Wake.

A recap of Odom's achievements while at Wake will demonstrate what a daunting task he has undertaken. Odom coached the Demon Deacons to 11 consecutive national postseason tournament appearances building Wake's program into a national contender averaging 20 victories per season. He earned the National Coach of the Year award in 1995 and was honored as the Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year three-times.

With two ACC championships (back to back), three Top 10 national finishes and seven straight NCAA Tournament appearances including the Elite Eight in 1996 and an NIT crown to his credit Odom has accomplished more in 12 seasons than most coaches do in a career.

Odom won more basketball games in his 12 years at Wake than any coach in their history over the same period of time. Odom and his teams put up an astounding 240-132 (65%) record, the second highest victory total in Wake Forest history, while playing in the incomparable ACC. His 101 wins in ACC play set a Wake Forest record for most wins by a Wake coach in ACC play, his overall winning percentage is the best at Wake in the modern era, the duplicate 26-6 records of 1995 and 96' are the best in Wake's history and his teams had a .500 or better record in ACC and NCAA Tournament play.

Odom coached three players who earned All-America honors, including the 1997 consensus national player of the year Tim Duncan. Duncan earned All-American Honors for (1996, 1997), guard Randolph Childress (1996), and forward Rodney Rogers (1993). Duncan was named ACC Player of the Year twice and Rogers once. Rogers and Robert O?Kelley both earned ACC Rookie of the Year honors as well.

In his two seasons at South Carolina Odom is 34-31. The 2001-02 season saw the Gamecocks under Odom have their best post-season in school history including a trip to the NIT championship game at Madison Square Garden. During the regular season South Carolina had a 22-15 record, the most wins ever by a South Carolina first year coach, they advanced to the semi-finals of the SEC Tournament and ended the season with a stellar 6-2 mark in postseason play.

On the floor Odom's style can be described as somewhat frenetic, always exuding energy and motivation, supporting his players with encouragement and instructions. Off the floor he spends hours tutoring individuals, but not allowing them or hiself to lose sight of the objective --- team success.

Perhaps, Dick Vitale said it best when he wrote, "Odom is a teacher, a person with a great understanding of the complexities of offensive and defensive systems. He is very organized and has great skills breaking down strengths and weaknesses of his players and their opponents. I have watched Odom over the years. I remember him as a teacher at the Five-Star camp, in the station drills, where guys like Peter Gillen, Rick Pitino, Mike Fratello and John Calipari developed under the watchful eye of Howard Garfinkel. His teaching ability played a big part in his becoming a leader."

Odom's career head coaching record is an outstanding 312-205 mark (60.3%). Win number 300 came over Syracuse in the 2002 NIT tournament, the third highest career victory total in the SEC. As part of his commitment to spread the "gospel" of basketball Odom spent the summer of 1999 as an assistant coach on the 1999 USA Basketball Junior World Championship team. The team competed in Portugal in July and captured the silver medal at the FIBA Men's Junior World Championships.

Dave Odom is a graduate of Guilford College with a BA degree, he got his M.ED. at East Carolina. He and his wife Lynn have two sons Lane and Ryan both following in Dad's footsteps.

Some of his accomplishments are:

11 consecutive national postseason tournament appearances at Wake Forest
Averaged 20 victories per season at Wake Forest
Earned the National Coach of the Year award in 1995
Named Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year three-times
Two ACC championships (back to back)
Three Top 10 national finishes
Seven straight NCAA Tournament appearances including the Elite Eight in 1996
NIT Championship
Won more basketball games in his 12 years at Wake than any coach in their history over the same period
240-132 (65%) record, the second highest victory total in Wake Forest history
101 wins in ACC play set a Wake Forest record for most wins by a Wake coach in ACC play
Overall best winning percentage at Wake in the modern era
Duplicate 26-6 records of 1995 and 96' best in Wake's history
.500 or better record in ACC and NCAA Tournament play
Coached three players who earned All-America honors
Coached consensus national player of the year
Coached two-time ACC Player of the Year
Coached another ACC Player of the Year
Coached two ACC Rookies of the Year
22-15 record first year at South Carolina most wins ever by a South Carolina first year coach
Best postseason in South Carolina's history
Coached South Carolina to the NIT championship game
Career head coaching record is 312-205 (60.3%)
Over 300 career wins
Third highest career victory total in SEC coaching ranks