Purdue is targeting UNLV's Barry Odom for its open head coaching position, according to a report Sunday from Yahoo's Ross Dellenger.
In two seasons on the job, Odom has quickly become arguably the most successful coach in UNLV's history. He's led the Rebels to a 19-8 record with two appearances in the Mountain West championship game. UNLV was in position to make the College Football Playoff with a win over No. 10 Boise State on Friday; the Rebels lost that game, 21-7.
Still, the 10-3 mark represents UNLV's best season since 1974, when the Rebels competed as a Division II team.
Previously, Odom went 25-25 as Missouri's head coach from 2016-19. He won plaudits for his reflection on perseverance following the 2019 firing by his alma mater and the success is birthed at UNLV.
"You learn from your lessons, you learn from your opportunities, you pick yourself up, you dust yourself off, and then you go create more," Odom said after clinching a berth in the conference championship.
Purdue is looking to rebound from an unsuccessful 2-year run under head coach Ryan Walters. After a 4-8 debut, the Boilermakers slumped to 1-11 this season with numerous blowout losses, most recently a 66-0 loss to No. 10 Indiana in the Old Oaken Bucket game.
Historically, Purdue has won by emphasizing the passing game, including under former head coach Jeff Brohm, who led the Boilers to four bowl games in his six seasons and 17 wins over his final two campaigns. AD Mike Bobinski has downplayed the need to hire an offensive-minded head coach, and a hire of Odom would test that theory.
“Would we go back to an offensive-minded coach?” Bobinski said Monday. “We’re going to go back to a winning coach is what we’re going to go back to. I think you can do that in a lot of different ways.”
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