COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri Board of Curators has approved a contract extension for Mizzou Head Football Coach Barry Odom through the 2024 season, as well as a $600,000 increase in his annual salary effective January 1, 2019 and an enhanced incentive package for academic and athletic performance, Mizzou Director of Athletics Jim Sterk announced today. In three seasons on the Mizzou sideline, Odom has improved the Tigers’ win total each year, while earning bowl bids in each of the past two. Odom’s 2018 team will carry an 8-4 record and a No. 23 (CFP)/No. 24 (Associated Pres) national ranking into its Dec. 31 AutoZone Liberty Bowl match-up against former conference rival Oklahoma State in Memphis, Tenn.
“Barry Odom has done an outstanding job of leading the Mizzou Football program the last three seasons and I’m grateful that we are able to reward that success today,” Sterk said. “He is building a championship culture within his program that fosters academic achievement, athletic success and accountability, and I am proud of what he has been able to accomplish during his first three seasons. With this year’s success and the South End Zone facility coming on-line next year, I believe Mizzou Football enjoys great momentum heading into the 2019 season and I look forward to working with Coach Odom to build upon that,” Sterk said.
A 1999 graduate of Mizzou, and a former standout linebacker for the Tigers from 1996-99, Odom owns a record of 19-18 in three seasons at Mizzou (with every loss coming to bowl-eligible teams), and with the Tigers’ Liberty Bowl invitation, he joined College Football Hall of Famer Dan Devine, Al Onofrio and Warren Powers, as the only coaches to lead two of their first three Mizzou teams into the postseason. Odom’s 19 wins are the most through three seasons by a Tiger coach since Powers won 23 from 1978-80, and a win in the bowl game would make this just the ninth team in program history to win nine games in a season.
“Coach Odom is the epitome of what it means to be Mizzou Made,” said MU Chancellor Alexander Cartwright. “From his days as a linebacker for the Tigers to his time on the sidelines, Barry has taken the core values of Mizzou – Respect, Responsibility, Discovery and Excellence – to heart. He is a champion for the university, helping our university celebrate academic achievements and supporting all of our student athletes, both on and off the field.”
After winning four games in his debut season, the Tigers went 7-6 in 2017 to earn a Texas Bowl berth and will take an 8-4 record into this month’s postseason game. His Tigers earned one of the most impressive road wins of any team this season, when Mizzou rolled to a 38-17 win on Nov. 3 at current No. 10 (CFP) Florida.
“Coach Odom has a tremendous passion for teaching and developing our student-athletes, on and off the field, which aligns well with our departmental philosophy to Win it Right,” Sterk said. “With this new contract, we felt it was important to recognize Coach Odom’s commitment to our football program and University, and we look forward to his continued leadership and watching him make a positive difference in the lives of our student-athletes,” he added.
The eight-win regular season in 2018 marks just the 17th time that has been achieved in 128 years of Mizzou Football. Odom’s teams have shown a penchant for finishing seasons in strong fashion, as they’ve won nine-straight games in the month of November, and in his three years at the helm, Mizzou is 10-2 overall in November games.
“I’m excited and thankful to lead our program and student-athletes for years to come,” said Odom. “I have great admiration for our leadership team of President Choi, Chancellor Cartwright and the Board of Curators, and thank them for this opportunity. I’m excited to move forward with Jim Sterk, we have the same vision in building Mizzou Football and providing a platform for our young men to be successful in all aspects of their lives. We have a great staff in place who care about winning the right way and I’m appreciative of their efforts. I’m grateful for our players, and I’m honored to be their coach. I want to give them the very best every single day,” he said.
In addition to a $600,000 increase in his annual salary and the additional two years added to his contract, his academic and athletic incentives package increased to more than $1.8M and he now has built in provisions for both annual salary increases and contract extensions based upon on-field achievements.
