re: tOfficial DC and/or Safeties coaching search thread

According to a source, Memphis defensive coordinator Barry Odom is returning next season after receiving interest from a number of schools including Arkansas and Indiana. Odom was the highest paid assistant on the Tigers' staff in 2013.

In his first two years as defensive coordinator, Odom's unit improved drastically. In 2012, Memphis moved up 67 spots to 50th in the nation in total defense by allowing a mere 383.6 yards per game.

In 2013, the Tigers were ranked inside the top-25 nationally for a lot of the season before giving up 86 points in the final two games of the year to finish 40th overall.

Odom returning to Memphis is huge. He has a lot of momentum behind him, and returns eight of 11 starters on defense. Also, the Tigers just hired his former college coach Ricky Hunley to manage the defensive line, so there were certainly plenty of reasons to stick around.

Plus, Odom has known Justin Fuente for a long time, and his a great rapport with the head coach. With Hunley's experience and Odom's defensive prowess, Memphis should be even better defensively in 2014. Get excited, folks. Football will be here before you know it.
247 Memphis a few days back....