In a whirlwind of college basketball developments, VCU coach Ryan Odom is emerging as the leading candidate to replace the recently vacated head coaching position at the University of Virginia. Sources indicate that a deal could be finalized within days, potentially reshaping the landscape of ACC basketball.

Odom's coaching journey gained national attention in 2018 when he led the 16-seed UMBC Retrievers to a historic upset over 1-seed Virginia in the first round of the NCAA tournament, marking the first time in tournament history that a 16-seed defeated a 1-seed. Following a successful tenure at UMBC, which included five seasons and a single NCAA tournament appearance, Odom took the reins at Utah State. There, he guided the Aggies back to the tournament in 2023 before making the transition to VCU.

During his two seasons with the Rams, Odom compiled an impressive 52-21 record, including a remarkable 26-10 in conference play. His team clinched both the Atlantic 10 regular-season and conference tournament championships, showcasing a strong finish with 18 victories in their final 20 games. However, their NCAA tournament run was cut short during the first round as they fell to BYU.

Odom, a native of Durham, North Carolina, brings valuable ACC experience to the table, having spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at Virginia Tech under Seth Greenberg. His pedigree in coaching runs deep; he is the son of Dave Odom, who previously coached at South Carolina, Wake Forest, and East Carolina.

The urgency for a new coach at Virginia arose when Tony Bennett unexpectedly retired after 15 seasons. Bennett, who won two national coach of the year awards and led the Cavaliers to a national championship in 2019, cited the "current environment" of college sports as a factor in his decision. During his tenure, Bennett helped the program capture six ACC regular-season titles and secure a strong presence in the NCAA tournament.

In the wake of Bennett's exit, associate head coach Ron Sanchez stepped in as interim head coach, but the Cavaliers struggled to find their footing, finishing with a disappointing 15-17 record and missing the postseason entirely. Athletic Director Carla Williams announced shortly after the season that Sanchez's interim status would not convert into a full-time position.

VCU has emerged as a premier basketball destination, boasting the potential for lucrative NIL deals and revenue-sharing opportunities within the Atlantic 10 conference. As Athletic Director Ed McLaughlin prepares for his fourth hire at the school, the anticipation builds. VCU has historically been a launching pad for successful coaches, with all three of McLaughlin's previous hires—Will Wade, Mike Rhoades, and now Odom—advancing to prominent positions after their success at VCU, particularly following the Final Four run in 2011.

As Ryan Odom stands on the brink of a significant career move, both VCU and Virginia have their sights set on what the future holds in this exciting chapter of college basketball. Will Odom’s leadership bring a new era to the Cavaliers? Stay tuned as this story develops!