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Southern introduces Odums as head football coach - 12/19/2012 -
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Southern
University Baton Rouge, December 19, 2012, during a mid-morning press
conference in the the Royal Cotillion Ballroom of the Smith-Brown
Memorial Student Union, introduced in Dawson Odoms as the new head
football coach for the Jaguars.
In the history of Southern University football, only two coaches own the
distinction of having defeated Grambling State, Jackson State, and
Florida A&M in their first season running the program; Pete
Richardson (1993) and the Jaguars' future head coach Dawson Odums
(2012).
On Friday, December 14, 2012, Southern athletics director William
Broussard recommended Odums, who was named interim in September, at the Southern University
System Board of Supervisors meeting in the J.S. Clark Administration
building on the Baton Rouge campus.
"(Dawson) Odums proved to be a
capable leader through adverse times during the 2012 season, and
accomplished much with little," Broussard said. "He led with purpose and
vision, valued high character and discipline among his players and
staff, and put our team in position to win in the fourth quarter in
eight of the nine contests in which he served as head coach."
Only
four coaches - A.W. Mumford, Robert Smith, Richardson and Odums - own
the distinction of having defeated Southern's three primary rivals in
the same season.
During his 9-game tenure, Odums is largely
credited with the Jaguars' success, placing an emphasis on player
discipline and accountability which translated into wins on the football
field. He also stressed the importance of academics and community
involvement as a cornerstone for developing quality student-athletes
both on-and-off the field.
Odums' previous title of defensive
coordinator changed to interim head coach two games into Southern's 2012
season. The North Carolina native and N.C. Central graduate proceeded
to lead the Jaguars to wins over Jackson State and against Florida
A&M after an 0-2 start, claiming the programs first consecutive win
streak since 2009.
Odums arrived at Southern in 2011 as the
defensive line coach after a 3-year stint at N.C. A&T where he
served as the Aggies' co-defensive coordinator in 2010 and defensive
line coach in 2009.
Before going to N.C. A&T, Odums spent
four seasons at Division II Clark Atlanta. From 2002 to 2003, he served
as the Panthers' assistant head coach, the defensive coordinator and the
recruiting coordinator. In 2004, he earned his first opportunity to
head a collegiate program when he took over as Clark Atlanta's interim
head football coach.
Following his coaching stint at Clark, Odums
became an assistant at the Aggies' Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
rival, Bethune-Cookman University where he coached the Wildcats'
defensive line from 2005-2007.
Odums has also been an assistant at Georgia Southern and Gardner-Webb.
He
spent two seasons at Georgia Southern where he coached linebackers in
2000 and in 2001 coached the Eagles defensive ends. The 2000 season was a
special year for Odums as he assisted the Eagles to the Division I-AA
(now Football Championship Subdivision) National Championship.
Odums
continues to improve his coaching philosophy and techniques by
attending various professional development based coaching camps and
conferences. He was recently selected to participate in the 2011 NCAA
Expert Coaches Academy in Orlando, Florida. In 2010, he was one of only
25 coaches selected from thousands of applicants to participate in the
NCAA Coaches Academy in Indianapolis. The Academy is designed to train
minorities for head coaching positions.
"Coach Odums' tutelage
under great coaches as a player and assistant, coupled with his advanced
study and training via the Coaches Academies showed in the interview,"
Broussard said. "His responses to questions from faculty, staff, and
other coaches reflected clear vision, excellent articulation, and a
commitment to academic, civic, and athletic excellence."
A
native of Shelby, North Carolina, Odums began his coaching career
returning to his high school alma mater, Crest High School. Odums turned
in a stellar playing career for the Eagles of North Carolina Central
University in Durham as a three-year starter and an All-CIAA selection
his senior year, where he also served as a team captain. Following his
playing career, he earned a bachelor's of science degree in physical
education in 1997.
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