Ryan Odom is leaving VCU to take over the Virginia men’s basketball program, following months of speculation, Virginia announced on Saturday.
Odom, who will become the 13th head coach in Virginia’s history, takes the helm after legendary coach Tony Bennett retired just before the start of the season.
Over the past two years at VCU, Odom posted an impressive 52-21 record and guided the Rams to the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Under his leadership, VCU captured the 2025 Atlantic 10 Tournament title and shared the A-10 regular-season championship.
This marks Odom’s fifth head coaching job at the collegiate level. In the last decade, he has compiled a 222-127 career record, with stops at Utah State (2021-23), UMBC (2017-2021), Lenoir-Rhyne (2016), and Charlotte (2015, interim head coach). Much like his tenure at VCU, Odom’s second season at Utah State and UMBC saw both teams reach the NCAA Tournament.
In 2018, Odom made history with UMBC, leading the Retrievers to a shocking first-round upset over Virginia in the NCAA Tournament — the first time a No. 16 seed defeated a No. 1 seed in tournament history.
Odom’s return to Virginia is a homecoming of sorts, as he grew up in Charlottesville while his father, Dave Odom, served as an assistant coach under Terry Holland from 1982 to 1989.
