| Title: | Head Football Coach |
| Phone: | (423) 636-7300 x-5290 |
| Email: | jodom@tusculum.edu |
| Alma Mater: | Florida, 1991 |
Jerry Odom was named the head football coach at Tusculum University on Dec. 14, 2015 becoming the 17th gridiron mentor in program history and the fourth since the reinstatement of the sport in 1991.
Odom, a football coaching veteran for over 25 years, boasts a strong lineage of experience at the collegiate and professional ranks where he has mentored 16 NFL players and coached in five postseason bowl games including the Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl and Outback Bowl.
In his seven seasons with Tusculum, Odom has guided the Pioneers to six top-4 finishes in the South Atlantic Conference, including the program's third SAC title coming in the spring of 2021. The Pioneers boasted one of the top teams in the country, offensively and defensively, and posted a 4-1 record culminating with a 28-23 win at defending league champion Lenoir-Rhyne in the SAC Championship Game.
The 2020-21 Pioneers averaged a league-best 533.4 yards offensively, including a SAC-best 394.2 passing yards per game, generating 37.6 points per contest. The TU defense limited the opposition to 17.6 points per game and 311.2 yards per game, including a league-low 84 rushing yards per contest.
In his first Tusculum season in 2016, the Pioneers won three of its last four games, including a 38-28 road win at defending South Atlantic Conference champion Catawba. He also closed out his inaugural TU campaign with a thrilling 31-30 overtime win over arch-rival Carson-Newman. Tusculum finished with a 4-7 overall record, but went 3-4 to finish fourth in the SAC standings.
In 2017, Odom and the Pioneers finished with a 5-5 record and finished in the top half of the league standings for a second straight year with a fourth-place showing. Tusculum won three of its last five games including a 25-17 upset over 12th-ranked Wingate handing the 2017 SAC Champions their only loss of the regular season. He guided a defensive unit that finished 11th in the nation with 11 fumbles recovered and 15th in the country with four defensive touchdowns. The Pioneers were tops in the conference in turnover margin (+9 - 21st in NCAA II) and turnovers gained (25 - 25th in NCAA II). In 2018, Tusculum’s defense was 11th nationally in team passing efficiency defense (102.95) and 12th in passing yards allowed (158.7 ypg). The 2019 club led the SAC in defensive touchdowns scored (3 - 23rd in NCAA II), first down defense (175 - 21st in NCAA II), and fourth-down percentage defense (.286 - 10th in NCAA II). Tusculum was also 10th in the nation in kickoff return defense (15.81 ypr) and 28th in the country in total defense (309 ypg).
His 2018 squad posted another 5-5 campaign, including 4-3 in conference play to finish tied for third in SAC and were on the verge of earning a NCAA II Playoff berth. TU posted an impressive 41-28 home win over Carson-Newman for the largest margin of victory over its arch-rival in 90 years.
The 2019 Tusculum squad went 4-4 in SAC play and won four of its last five games to finish with a 5-win campaign. The Pioneers boasted six All-SAC performers and also had five garner CoSIDA Academic All-District laurels, the most in a single-season by a TU squad.
In 2022, Odom led the Pioneers to an 8-3 record and a runner-up finish in the SAC Mountain Division. TU finished ranked in the NCAA II in 19 team categories including 31st with its .727 won-loss percentage. The Pioneers were the SAC statistical team champions in four categories including TU's four defensive touchdowns tied a program single-season record and were the eighth-most in the country. Tusculum's 19 interceptions were the second-most in school history and were ranked third in the division. TU's 93.02 team passing efficiency defense was tops in the league and fourth nationally. The Pioneers forced 25 turnovers (T10th in TU history) which were the 16th most in the nation in 2022. Tusculum also finished 15th in pass defense (159.6 ypg – 3rd in SAC), 18th in total defense (282.4 ypg – 3rd in SAC), 21st in first down defense (171 – 2nd in SAC), 23rd in scoring defense (17.9 ppg – 2nd in SAC), 26th in team tackles for loss per game (7.7 tpg – 2nd in SAC), 35th in third down conversion defense (.328 – 3rd in SAC) and 47th in turnover margin (+4).
The Pioneers had a SAC-best 16 players earn All-SAC Mountain Division recognition in 2022 including All-America offensive lineman Tommy Mahoney, who was a nominee for the Gene Upshaw Lineman of the Year Award.
In his seven seasons in Greeneville, he has mentored 46 All-South Atlantic Conference standouts and 10 All-Region performers including 2016 SAC Defensive Freshman of the Year Jay Boyd, who also garnered All-America distinction in his rookie campaign. Twenty-one (21) of his players garnered Academic All-District accolades including Evan Altizer, who was an Academic All-America first team choice and was also tabbed the 2017 SAC Football Scholar Athlete of the Year. Altizer was later recognized with the league’s top student-athlete honor as he was chosen as the 2017-2018 recipient of the SAC Presidents Award. All-SAC punter Andrew Cantrell earned Academic All-America laurels in his final three seasons (2020, 2021, 2022).
Odom, a native of Merritt Island, Florida, served six seasons as the associate head coach at NCAA-FCS Jacksonville University from 2010-2015 where he was the chief architect of some of the best defensive units in JU history. Odom helped guide the Dolphins to 47-19 overall record, including a pair of 9-2 campaigns in his last two years at JU.
In 2015, his defense led the nation for a second consecutive year with 20 interceptions, while also forcing 10 fumbles resulting in 30 turnovers gained, the third-best tally in the country. The Dolphins finished 2015 ranked 11th in team tackles for loss, 11th in team sacks (33), 12th in passing efficiency defense (104.7), 15th in scoring defense (19.1 ppg), 17th in red zone defense (68.4%), 23rd in total defense (326.2 ypg) and 23rd in rushing defense (127.4 ypg).
In 2014, Odom’s defense led the country with 24 interceptions and was the Pioneer League statistical champion for scoring defense (17.5 ppg – 6th in NCAA-FCS), passing efficiency defense (98.9 – 3rd in NCAA-FCS) and turnovers gained (33 – 2nd in NCAA-FCS). The Dolphins were also nationally-ranked in total defense (334.5 ypg – 23rd in NCAA-FCS) and rushing defense (135.9 ypg – 19th in NCAA-FCS).
During his tenure at Jacksonville, 47 defensive players earned All-Conference recognition, including a Pioneer League-best 10 honorees in 2015.
Prior to joining the JU staff, Odom was the associate head coach and special teams coordinator with the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League from 2008-2009. The Soul tied the AFL single-season wins record with 17 victories, while capturing the world championship.
Odom was also the head coach at Coffee County High School in Douglas, Georgia from 2005-2007. His teams posted a 22-12 record for the best three-year run in school history. After going 4-6 in his first season, the Trojans put together back-to-back nine-win campaigns for the first time ever. For his efforts, he was named the 2006 Region 1-5A Coach of the Year, which has been recognized as the toughest high school football region in the country by USA Today.
From 2003-2005, Odom was the defensive coordinator/special teams coordinator at East Carolina University. While at the Greenville, North Carolina program, ECU led Conference USA in kickoff returns, punt returns and kickoff coverage. While with the Pirates, Odom also recruited the likes of running back Chris Johnson, who went on to become the NFL’s leading rusher in 2009 with the Tennessee Titans.
From 2000-2002, he served as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at the University of Florida as Odom helped lead the Gators to a top-10 ranking in total defense in each of his three seasons in Gainesville. He mentored All-Southeastern Conference linebacker Andra Davis, who finished as a national semifinalist for the 2001 Butkus Award. His linebacker corps sparked a Gator defense that was ranked 18th nationally. Florida went 28-10 during that three-year span, including a 10-3 record while capturing the 2000 SEC Championship and advanced to the Sugar Bowl. The 2001 team went 10-2 and knocked off Maryland in the Orange Bowl. Florida finished 8-5 the next year and earned a bid to the Outback Bowl.
Odom played collegiately at Florida where he was a four-year letterman at inside linebacker for the Gators from 1987-1990. He started in every game in his junior and senior campaigns on a defense that was among the nation’s top-five in total defense in 1988, 1989 and 1990. His senior squad tied for first place in the 1990 SEC standings with a 9-2 record as he led the Gators in tackles for a second consecutive season while earning All-SEC third team honors.
He was an All-SEC Freshman Team selection in 1987 and was tabbed to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 1990 while also serving as the Gators’ team captain.
Odom served as a graduate assistant coach on the Florida staff in 1991 as the Gators won the SEC Championship with a 10-2 record and played in the Sugar Bowl.
He has coached at various high schools in Florida and also served as a graduate assistant at Texas Christian University under Pat Sullivan.
From 1992-1998, Odom played professionally with the AFL’s Orlando Predators for seven seasons as a linebacker/running back. He helped the Predators to four Arena Bowl appearances (1992, 1994, 1995, 1998) and won the title in 1998. He retired as Orlando’s career rushing yardage leader and ranked fifth in AFL history.
Odom graduated from Florida in 1991 while majoring in health and human performance with a minor in education.
He is married to the former Donna Carter of Charleston, South Carolina and they are the parents of two sons, Reid and Clay.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT COACH ODOM:
“Jerry Odom is a perfect fit for Tusculum. He is a man of character who is committed to the overall development of our student-athletes,” said Jones. “Jerry has been successful at the highest levels of college football. His reputation as one of the best defensive minds in the game was very attractive to us. I truly believe that Jerry has a plan that will position our football program into the upper echelon of the South Atlantic Conference.”
Doug Jones, Vice President for Athletics & University Initiatives - Tusculum University
“Jerry is a tireless worker with a plan and vision – Tusculum has made a great decision.”
Will Muschamp, former head football coach – University of South Carolina
“I have worked with a lot of coaches in my career and I you won’t find one who is more passionate than Jerry Odom. He stands for everything that is good about college athletics and he truly cares about his student-athletes and those around his football program. Tusculum has made a great hire.”
Alan Verlander – Chief Operating officer of Gator Bowl Sports and Entertainment, former director of athletics – Jacksonville University
“Jerry did an outstanding job while he was at Florida, not only as a player, but especially as a coach. He has a tremendous passion for the game and is an extremely hard worker. Tusculum has made a great hire and will be very glad to have him guiding their football program.”
Jeremy Foley, former Director of Athletics – University of Florida
“Jerrry grew up in a football family and has the passion for the game that will make a great fit for Tusculum University, the Greeneville community and the Pioneer football family.”
Ron Zook, special teams coordinator – Green Bay Packers and former head coach – University of Florida
“Jerry Odom is a passionate coach who is going to bring a lot of excitement to the Tusculum family. He is a very focused on the program’s goals and his players will love to play for him. He is a players’ coach and it should be an outstanding future for the Pioneer football program.”
Kerwin Bell, former head football coach – Jacksonville University
Odom’s Year-by-Year Head Coaching Record
Year School Overall Pct. SAC Pct. SAC Finish
2016 Tusculum 4-7 .364 3-4 .429 T4th
2017 Tusculum 5-5 .500 3-4 .429 T4th
2018 Tusculum 5-5 .500 4-3 .571 T3rd
2019 Tusculum 5-6 .455 4-4 .500 T4th
2020 Tusculum 4-1 .800 2-0 1.000 1st
2021 Tusculum 5-6 .455 3-5 .375 7th
2022 Tusculum 8-3 .727 6-3 .667 2nd
Totals 36-33 .522 25-23 .521
