Sam Pittman is still employed as the Arkansas football coach, but that hasn’t stopped rampant speculation about who might be next if things go poorly in 2024.
One popular choice, given his previous success and the fact he’s already on staff, is offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino.
Another top candidate, at least according to podcaster John Nabors in an interview with That SEC Podcast, may be a different coordinator from the Pittman era who has SEC-head coaching experience on his resume: Barry Odom.
After serving as the Razorbacks’ defensive coordinator from 2020-22, Odom was hired as the head coach at UNLV. In his first year on the job, he led the Rebels to a 9-5 record and appearance in the MWC Championship Game. It is his second job as a head coach, as he previously held that role at Missouri from 2016-19 and went 25-25.
“I think that they would bring him from UNLV, because what he did at UNLV, I don’t think it’s talked about enough,” Nabors said. “What are they, 1-11 before he showed up? And (he) just changes everything. I think he’s a heck of a head coach, and I think he got a raw deal at Missouri. I don’t think he was given enough time and enough resources for it.”
UNLV wasn’t *quite* as bad as Nabors said, going 5-7 the year before Odom took over, but the nine-win season was certainly impressive.
The Rebels went 2-10 in 2021 and 0-6 in the pandemic-altered 2020 season. They hadn’t finished with a .500 record or better since going 7-6 in 2013 — a decade before Odom’s arrival. It was their most wins since 1984.
Heading into Year 2 under the former Arkansas defensive coordinator, UNLV is picked to finish second in the Mountain West. With an expanded field that now includes 12 teams, there is a legitimate path to the College Football Playoff for the Rebels, especially with a non-conference slate that includes Houston, Kansas, Syracuse and Oregon State.
If that happens, Odom would almost certainly be a hot commodity in the coaching carousel – one that could very well include the Razorbacks if Pittman isn’t able to get things back on track after a rough 4-8 campaign in 2023.
Barry Odom’s Message to Arkansas Fans
The possibility laid out by John Nabors isn’t the only reason UNLV is an intriguing Group of Five program for Arkansas football fans.
Not only is the Rebels’ head coach Barry Odom, but their defensive coordinator is Michael Scherer and their special teams coordinator is James Shibest. Both of those coaches are former Arkansas assistants, with the latter also playing for the Razorbacks.
UNLV’s roster also features five former Razorbacks and two other players who played their high school ball in the Natural State.
Those connections were behind Odom’s message to Arkansas fans during an hour-long interview with the Coaches and the Mouth podcast, which comes out Thursday morning.
“I know this: Whenever we play and the Hogs aren’t playing, the whole state of Arkansas ought to be rooting for the UNLV Rebels because of connections we have here that are former Razorbacks,” Odom said.
This isn’t the first time Odom has appealed to fans of his former employer. He also opened up a practice during his first spring ball in March 2023 and extended an open invitation to Arkansas fans when the Razorbacks’ men’s basketball team reached the Sweet 16 in Las Vegas.
Needless to say, it doesn’t appear to be “coach speak” when Odom began his interview with the Coaches and the Mouth Podcast by saying Fayetteville was the “greatest” place he and his family have ever lived.
Would Barry Odom Return?
Assuming he puts together another solid season at UNLV and becomes a legitimate candidate, there’s a chance Barry Odom will have multiple options if he chooses to coach a major program again.
So the first question that has to be asked is simple: Would he consider a return to Fayetteville?
Based on his comments on the Coaches and the Mouth podcast, it seems like that would be an emphatic, ‘Yes.’
“When the UNLV job came open, I wasn’t looking to leave Arkansas because I loved it there so much,” Odom said. “I thought we had a good defensive class coming in and a really good defensive opportunity that next year for ’23, but I also know if you want and have the itch to be a head coach and an opportunity comes about, man, there’s only so many times you can say no and eventually they’re going to quit giving you opportunities.”
That logic about only getting so many opportunities to be a head coach before they stop extending them not only applies to jobs in the FBS, but also jobs in the SEC.
It’s pretty clear that’s the conference in which he wants to coach again. Odom said during the podcast interview that he could have been a Group of Five head coach in 2020, but wanted to remain in the SEC even if it meant becoming a coordinator.
He also holds Arkansas in high regard, seemingly admitting he believed the Razorbacks might have been more talented than his Missouri teams despite going undefeated against them.
“When I was the head coach at Missouri – and I’m going to make a whole bunch of people mad, I’m not saying this to make people mad – we went 4-0 against Arkansas,” Odom said. “And I couldn’t believe it because I looked at the way Arkansas was recruiting during that time, but we just found a way to win on the field.”
Another thing that shouldn’t be ignored is the fact that Arkansas will continue to play Missouri every year moving forward. If the SEC maintains its eight-game conference schedule, the Tigers will be the Razorbacks’ only annual opponent.
That means Arkansas is the only school that could guarantee Odom an opportunity to play his alma mater every year. Why is that significant? He’s still bitter about the way he was fired in 2019, agreeing with one of the hosts that he got a “raw deal.”
What That’d Look Like for Arkansas Football
Aside from spicing up the Battle Line Rivalry to a point where even Arkansas fans might have to recognize its legitimacy, Barry Odom returning to Fayetteville as the Razorbacks’ next head coach would have a couple of favorable side effects.
First of all, he would probably boost the in-state recruiting efforts, which have fallen off the last couple of years. Heck, Odom is doing that already despite being all the way out in Las Vegas – as well as a couple of other critical territories for the Arkansas football program.
“We’re going to recruit the state of Arkansas heavy, heavy, heavy because I know the type of players that are there, I know the type of high school coaches (there) – tremendous coaches at high school football,” Odom said on the podcast, which includes Pea Ridge coach Brey Cook and Jeff Williams, Siloam Springs’ athletic director. “If we get the players we want out of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, we’ll win a championship here. I believe that.
“The connective piece is really strong and it’s helped us certainly get the program up off the ground and we’re going to continue to, I think, win at a championship level.”
Then there’s the question about who he’d bring in as his coordinators.
One near certainty would be Michael Scherer following him to Arkansas as the defensive coordinator. He was recruited by and played for Odom at Missouri before working under him as a GA and eventually getting promoted to linebackers coach at Arkansas.
With the Razorbacks, he was instrumental in coaching up the likes of Grant Morgan, Bumper Pool, Hayden Henry and Drew Sanders.
It’s also not too much of a stretch to think special teams coordinator James Shibest would also follow Odom. After all, he played for the Razorbacks as an All-SWC wide receiver from 1983-86 and then coached under Houston Nutt from 2000-07.
“James Shibest, I believe he’s the best special teams coordinator in all of football – doesn’t matter what level,” Odom said. “Last year, the special teams for us was our X-factor. It won us games. We had an All-American punt and kick returner who’s returning. Coach Shibest is one of the greatest motivators I’ve ever been around and he gets guys in position to make plays.”
Finally, the biggest question is at offensive coordinator. Current UNLV OC Brennan Marion is one of the top young play callers in the country. His name was mentioned for several bigger jobs this offseason, but chose to stay with the Rebels.
If his unit puts up big numbers again in 2024, Marion could land a head coaching gig or big-time offensive coordinator job elsewhere.
In that scenario, Odom could just retain the Razorbacks’ current offensive coordinator. After all, Bobby Petrino is who he initially hired at UNLV. The hire that drew national attention stemmed from a prior relationship dating back to his time at Missouri, when his wide receivers coach was Garrick McGee and Petrino was between jobs. They invited the former Arkansas coach to spend a few days around the program and that left a lasting impression on Odom.
Of course, Petrino lasted only a few weeks in that role before bolting for the same position at Texas A&M. On the podcast, Odom joked that he was “frustrated with Bobby,” but he doesn’t hold it against him.
“I think he’s a brilliant offensive mind, so when we were able to get him hired when I first got the job, that was a big deal and I was excited about it,” Odom said. “I understand why he left and I still talk to Bobby. We talk often, every month, and I know he’ll do a heck of a job this year.”
Sure, this is mostly speculation given Sam Pittman is still the head coach and will address reporters at SEC Media Day on Thursday, but John Nabors’ prediction seems to hold some merit.
Barry Odom Resume
Career Record as a HC: 34-30
| Year | School | Overall Record | Conference Record | Conf. Finish | Bowl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Missouri | 4-8 | 2-6 | 7th (East) | n/a |
| 2017 | Missouri | 7-6 | 4-4 | T-3rd (East) | L, Texas Bowl |
| 2018 | Missouri | 8-5 | 4-4 | T-4th (East) | L, Liberty Bowl |
| 2019 | Missouri | 6-6 | 3-5 | T-4th (East) | n/a |
| 2023 | UNLV | 9-5 | 6-2 | T-1st | L, Guaranteed Rate Bowl |
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Watch the full interview with Barry Odom here:
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