By: Mark Kim and Chinmay Vaidya
The University of Missouri Athletic Department introduced Missouri defensive coordinator Barry Odom as the new head football coach Friday afternoon.

“This is where I wanted to be, without question,” said Odom. “I wanted to be at the University of Missouri.”
“He is the right person [for the job],” said Rhoades. “This is the right time. This is the perfect fit.”
According to Rhoades, Odom was one of five candidates that were considered for the Missouri job and the first candidate Rhoades interviewed. It took Odom one more interview before being offered the head-coaching job on Wednesday.
Odom was Missouri’s defensive coordinator last season. In his one-year stint as the Tiger’s defensive coordinator, he led the defense to 3624 total yards allowed and 302 yards allowed per game, which put Missouri at ninth in the nation in both categories.
He also held various coaching positions at Missouri from 2003 to 2011 before taking a defensive coordinator job at the University of Memphis for three seasons.
Even though Odom has barely been the head coach for a day, he says he’s ready to show fans what the football team will be capable of next year.
“You’re going to be proud of the product we put in the classroom, on the football field, and in society,” said Odom.