Kirk Ferentz, Iowa took notice of new Purdue head coach during UNLV stint

Though their paths haven’t yet crossed, Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz said he has been impressed by the Purdue Boilermakers’ new head football coach.

Purdue recently hired Barry Odom, 48, as its new head football coach. Odom orchestrated one of the more impressive coaching jobs over the past two seasons as he guided UNLV to back-to-back Mountain West championship game appearances and beat Power Four foes Houston and Kansas this season.

The Rebels lost each of those Mountain West Championship games to Boise State, but Odom compiled a 19-8 mark with UNLV over the past two seasons, including a 10-3 record this year.

Ferentz said it caught he and the Iowa staff’s eye.

“Tremendous respect for him, especially if you look at what he’s done here these last couple years. I don’t mean this in a negative way towards UNLV, but they’ve gone through several coaches there over the years and really have never had success, proven success or continued success there.

“So, I kind of look across things sometimes, things catch your eye. I’ve said it to several people this year the job that they’re doing down there is just absolutely amazing. I don’t pretend to know what they’re doing or how they were doing it other than I know they’re playing really good football. I’ve never met him personally, but have heard nothing but positive things about him as a person and as a coach. Not surprised that he’s that kind of success there,” Ferentz said of Odom.

Odom also served as the head coach at his alma mater, Missouri, from 2016-19. Odom was fired a day after the regular season ended following the Tigers’ 6-6 finish in the 2019 season.

Odom compiled a 25-25 (13-19 SEC) record during his four seasons with the Tigers.

Odom takes over a Purdue program that sank in a hurry under Ryan Walters’ direction. Walters…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/kirk-ferentz-iowa-took-notice-124557932.html

Author : Hawkeyes Wire

Publish date : 2024-12-15 12:45:00

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