Missouri Football: Contract extension on the horizon for Barry Odom?
The Missouri Tigers finished the season 7-5. Missouri, which hasn’t lost a game in six weeks, is now considering extending head coach Barry Odom’s contract.
Since completing his second season, Odom has compiled an 11-13 record. Missouri still has a bowl game to play in, which, if the Tigers win, will push Odom’s overall to 12 wins (1-0 in bowl game appearances).
I readily admit that I was uneasy with what seemed a snap decision. I’m still not totally comfortable with it, but the program has grown and attained a certain level of maturity since Odom turned the season around.
In his second year, Odom has had one good season for Missouri, but to his credit, the team’s surging performance happened after losing five straight, to start the first half of the season 1-5.
Missouri Tigers Football
That said, I may not agree with the decision out of the gate, but given time, it will grow on me. I guess my biggest concern is that the team’s 7-5 finish isn’t an aberration, but instead, recognition of growth and better things to come.
From a recruiting perspective, Missouri offering Odom a contract extension is good. It creates stability at the position, and shows perspective recruits that the program is committed to Odom.
In turn, it will allow Odom to say with confidence, that he along with the program can invest in any recruit who is interested in joining the Missouri family.
One of the more underrated coaching jobs this year belongs to @Coach_Odom. Tigers could win 7 regular-season games, and he walked into an absolute mess, campus-wide, after the protest. He's kept his head down and improved that program.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) November 13, 2017
Missouri’s recent loss of recruits is concerning, but with the team’s steady stream of success over the second half of the season, the Tigers should see an uptick in recruiting commits, including the possible re-addition of quarterback James Foster.
While LSU is Foster’s predicted landing spot, the Missouri recruit hasn’t inked his name to a financial aid agreement with any program.
Next: Odom changed Mizzou in 6 weeks
At this point, no overtures have been made public between Missouri and Odom, but I would expect that it won’t be much longer, and Odom will be signing on the dotted line. If anything, as long as the team continues to win, Mizzou’s commitment to Odom will be good for business.