Ryan Odom to Lead Virginia Cavaliers: A Full Circle Moment Marked by Irony
In a stunning and somewhat poetic turn of events, the University of Virginia Cavaliers have tapped Ryan Odom as their new head basketball coach. The move is laden with irony, as Odom was previously on the sidelines as an assistant coach for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers when they orchestrated one of the most monumental upsets in college basketball history, defeating the top-seeded Virginia Cavaliers in the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
The Cavaliers, heavily favored by 20.5 points in that fateful encounter, were stunned as UMBC delivered a resounding 74-54 defeat, etching their names into the annals of March Madness lore as the first 16-seed to ever conquer a No. 1 seed. The image of the Retrievers dominating the second half, leaving the Virginia faithful in disbelief, remains a vivid memory for college basketball fans.
Odom’s journey since that historic upset has been one of continued growth and success. He remained with UMBC until 2021, before accepting the head coaching position at Utah State. He further solidified his reputation as a capable leader during his tenure at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), a position he assumed at the start of the 2023 season. While his VCU squad, seeded No. 11, was eliminated in the first round of this year’s tournament by BYU, Odom’s overall performance at the helm of the Rams was impressive, setting the stage for this move to Charlottesville.
The decision to bring Odom to Virginia comes after the unexpected departure of longtime head coach Tony Bennett. Bennett, who guided the Cavaliers to a national championship in 2019, announced his retirement in October, just weeks before the start of the season. Ron Sanchez stepped in as the interim head coach in the wake of Bennett’s abrupt exit.
Bennett’s departure was partly attributed to his discomfort with the evolving landscape of college athletics, particularly the influence of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. In his retirement press conference, Bennett expressed his belief that the game had fundamentally changed, moving closer to a professional model. He questioned his ability to effectively lead the program in this new environment, emphasizing the need for complete dedication and alignment with the new rules.
"I think it’s right for student athletes to receive revenue, but the game in college athletics is not in a healthy spot. It’s not. And there needs to be change. It’s not going to go back. I think I was equipped to do the job here the old way — that’s who I am, and that’s how it was — and my staff has buoyed me along to get to this point, but there needs to be change. It’s going to be closer to a professional model. Will I miss the game? Do I love the game? Absolutely," Bennett stated.
"But I don’t think I’m equipped in this new way to coach, and it’s a disservice if you keep doing that. I’m very sure that this is the right step. I wish I could’ve gone longer. I really do. But it was time."
The Cavaliers, under Bennett’s leadership, experienced a period of sustained success, culminating in the 2019 national championship. The victory was particularly sweet, coming just a year after the devastating loss to UMBC. Bennett rallied his team, and they embarked on a dominant tournament run, ultimately hoisting the trophy.
However, recent years have been less kind to Virginia. They suffered early exits in the NCAA Tournament, including upsets as a No. 4 seed in both 2021 and 2023. In 2024, they failed to advance beyond the First Four, and in 2022, they were relegated to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The team also missed the NCAA Tournament altogether this year, signaling a need for a change in direction.
Ryan Odom brings a fresh perspective and a proven track record to the Virginia program. In his time at VCU, he amassed a record of 52-21. He boasts a career record of 222-127. Notably, Odom also has ties to the Virginia program; his father, Dave Odom, served as an assistant coach for the Cavaliers in the 1980s.
While UMBC’s upset of Virginia remains the most iconic example of a 16-seed defeating a 1-seed, Fairleigh Dickinson achieved a similar feat five years later, triumphing over Purdue. The other 158 matchups between 1-seeds and 16-seeds have resulted in victories for the top-seeded teams, highlighting the rarity of such upsets.
The hiring of Odom represents a new chapter for Virginia basketball. The program is looking to recapture its championship-winning form. Whether Odom can replicate the success he has achieved at previous stops remains to be seen, but the irony of his hiring is undeniable. He will forever be linked to one of the most painful moments in Virginia basketball history, yet he now has the opportunity to lead the program forward. The move is a bold one, and one that has the potential to either be a stroke of genius or a complete failure. Only time will tell.
The addition of Odom introduces a new era, marked by the challenge of building a program equipped for the landscape of modern college basketball. He’s inheriting a team in transition. The hope is that he’ll revitalize the team in the NIL era.
