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SEC Football: Power Ranking the SEC East’s New Coaches

By John Richardson

Dec 4, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; The SEC trophy on display before the SEC coaches press conference with Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; The SEC trophy on display before the SEC coaches press conference with Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 27, 2015; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Missouri Tigers fans hold a sign for head coach Gary Pinkel during the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas defeated Missouri 28-3. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2015; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Missouri Tigers fans hold a sign for head coach Gary Pinkel during the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas defeated Missouri 28-3. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /

#3.  Barry Odom

Suffice it to say, Barry Odom has some huge shoes to fill in the world of SEC football.  Even more, however, at The University of Missouri.  Odom understands what he is up against more than most, though.  Odom is a Missou alum, having wrapped up his playing career there in 1999.  He actually just barely missed playing for Pinkel, who arrived there in 2001.

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So what drops Odom to the bottom of these three?  Whether it’s fair or not, he simply does not have the same experience as the other two men on this list.  Especially not when it comes to SEC football.

Odom’s coaching career breaks down like this:

2000:  Assistant Coach, High School

2001-02:  Head Coach, High School

2003:  Administrative Graduate Assistant, Missouri

2004-05:  Director of Football Recruiting, Missouri

2006:  Director of Football Operations, Missouri

2007-08:  Asst. AD/Director of Football Operations, Missouri

2009-11: Safeties, Missouri

2012-14:  Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers, Memphis

2015:  Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers, Missouri

“Wait!” you say,  “he’s got a ton of experience at Missouri!”  You’re absolutely right.  But his actual coaching experience in SEC football isn’t close to that of Smart’s or Muschamp’s.  The good news here is Odom had an excellent defense in 2015, has spent time as a recruiting director (Mizzou needs it) and he’s spent a ton of time learning from Gary Pinkel.  He was a safe choice and one that made the players happy.  He may turn out to be the best of all three, we just have no way of knowing yet.

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