Ryan Odom put together a strong debut season and now the Virginia men’s basketball program wants him to stay longer. UVA Director of Athletics Carla Williams announced Tuesday that Odom had agreed to a contract extension through March 2032.
Contract details were not released.
The original deal signed by Odom when he was hired in 2025 was a six-year deal through the 2030-31 season so this extends that by one year. Terms of the initial contract for Odom were set to pay him $3.25 million in his first season plus annual increases of $100,000 to his total compensation. He also received bonuses for certain benchmarks like $50,000, for example, if that year’s team qualifies for the the NCAA Tournament.
“Coach Odom has made a distinct and immediate impact on our program,” Williams said in the UVA Athletics news release. “He has instilled a strong sense of family and established a deep connection to the University for the young men within our program. Ryan is a fierce competitor who is committed to the values and legacy of this storied program. He is a winner and we are excited about the future of Virginia Men’s Basketball under his leadership.”
In Odom’s first season with the Hoos, they rattled off a 30-6 record that included a 15-3 run through the ACC that placed them second in the standings. It marked just the sixth time in school history that the program won 30 or more games. UVA also advanced to the ACC Tournament Championship Game and qualified with an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament. The Cavaliers advanced with an opening win, but lost in the round of 32.
After the season, Ugo Onyenso was selected with the No. 53 overall pick by the Houston Rockets in the NBA Draft. He signed a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons after his draft rights were traded.
Odom owns a career record of 252-166. He has led Virginia, VCU, Utah State, UMBC, and Lenoir-Rhyne to an NCAA Tournament bid.
Odom spent time in his childhood around the UVA program when his father Dave Odom was an assistant coach under Terry Holland. He even worked games as a ball boy at the time and has recalled watching many Cavalier greats in action against legendary ACC coaches and players.
“I am incredibly grateful and honored to serve as the head coach of Virginia basketball,” Odom said in the UVA Athletics news release. “I want to thank President Scott Beardsley and Dr. Carla Williams for their confidence in me and their unwavering support of our program. This extension reflects the hard work and commitment of our players, coaches and staff, as well as the incredible support we receive from the entire UVA community. Virginia is a truly special place, and my family and I are proud to call Charlottesville home. We are excited about what lies ahead and remain committed to building a program that represents this university the right way.”
Virginia will take on Vanderbilt in a preseason exhibition game in a little more than a month. The two teams are scheduled to play on Sunday, Sept. 27 in Charleston, S.C. at the LinkU Invitational. That game is planned to be held at Credit One Stadium, an outdoor venue that usually hosts tennis tournaments in the city.
A full season schedule has not yet been announced by the ACC.
Comments