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Purdue to Pay $3M Buyout for UNLV's Barry Odom, Aiming for Program Rebuild

Dec 8, 2024, 02:55 PM

Purdue University is finalizing a deal to hire Barry Odom as its next head football coach, according to multiple sources. Odom, who has been the head coach at UNLV for the past two seasons, led the Rebels to a 19-8 record, including a 10-win season, their first in 40 years. Before UNLV, Odom had a 25-25 record at Missouri. The move to Purdue is expected to significantly increase Odom's salary, from around $2 million per year at UNLV to a figure closer to what Purdue was paying its previous coach. UNLV is due a $3 million buyout from Purdue for Odom's departure. The hiring comes at a time when Purdue is looking to rebuild its football program following the departure of its previous coach.