UNLV football coach Barry Odom takes Purdue head-coaching job

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — UNLV football coach Barry Odom will move to Indiana after he accepts the head coaching position at Purdue.

Purdue football is welcoming Odom through a post on X:

Odom has gone 19-8 in two seasons— leading the Rebels to back-to-back Mountain West championship games.

Sources told ESPN Odom had been a long-time candidate for the Boilermakers. He will replace Ryan Walter, who went 5-19 over two seasons at Purdue.

Walters was fired after a season-ending 11-game losing streak. Purdue traveled to Las Vegas to meet Odom and ensure he was a good fit for the Boilermakers.

Before UNLV, Odom coached four seasons at Missouri and was a star linebacker. He has also worked as the defensive coordinator at Memphis, Missouri, and Arkansas.

After Odom's powerful leadership, he has been a sought-after candidate with his recent success and coaching resume.

UNLV football is now on the hunt for a new head coach, making this a bittersweet end to this historic season.

This change for UNLV is effective immediately, which means Odom will not coach the Rebels in UNLV's bowl game.

The Rebels will take on Cal on December 18 for the Art of Sport LA Bowl hosted by Gronk at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. The game starts at 6 p.m.

UNLV Wide Receivers coach Del Alexander will coach the team in the bowl game in an interim position.

Little did we know after coach Barry Odom and the players walked off that blue field Friday in Boise, it would be the last time we'd see them together, but it's now reality for UNLV. Joey Sleiman isn't mad though.

“Thank you for all you’ve done for this team, I think it’s been a great time," said Sleiman, a 3rd year UNLV student and avid UNLV football fan. "I think he’s built a lot for the program.”

That's the message Sleiman and several UNLV faithful have for the now Purdue head coach.

“It feel really good to like be proud of your school and see your team do so well and just, it’s so much fun," said Sleiman.

UNLV Athletics Director Erik Harper says that has a lot to do with Coach Odom.

“He made the Rebels a nationally known brand in college football for the first time," said Harper.

How do you replace the success he's had?

Harper says even though the news came out Sunday, Odom's success is helping with the search already.

“We’ve been reached out to this morning by a lot of quality current head coaches, former head coaches, offensive coordinators, defensive coordinators, NFL," said Harper.

No matter who gets hired, UNLV faithful are confident they'll continue this success.

“And I fully expect us to do that, there is no reason why and if we don’t, shame on us for not helping make that happen," said Steve Stallworth, UNLV QB from 1982-1986

“I think we can keep the moment going and I don’t think it’s out of the realm," said Sleiman.

Even if the Rebels don't come home victorious, this team will finish as one of the top 2 winningest football teams in school history.

The best record the Rebels have had in a single season is 11-2 in 1984. They have not reached double-digit wins since this season at a 10-3 record before the bowl game.

UNLV has not won a bowl game since 2000 and this will be the first time the Rebels have two straight bowl seasons since entering Division 1 in 1978.