su system athletics highlights
Southern introduces Odums as head football coach
Before going to N.C. A&T, Odums spent four seasons at Division II Clark Atlanta. From 2002 to 2003, he served as the Panthers’ assistant head coach, the defensive coordinator and the recruiting coordinator. In 2004, he earned his first opportunity to head a collegiate program when he took over as Clark Atlanta’s interim head football coach. Following his coaching stint at Clark, Odums became an assistant at the Aggies’ Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rival, BethuneCookman University where he coached the Wildcats’ defensive line from 2005-2007.
athletic director William Broussard. “His responses to questions from faculty, staff, and other coaches reflected clear vision, excellent articulation, and a commitment to academic, civic, and athletic excellence.” A native of Shelby, North Carolina, Odums began his coaching career returning to his high school alma mater, Crest High School. Odums turned in a stellar playing career for the Eagles of North Carolina Central University in Durham as a three-year starter and an All-CIAA selection his senior year, where he also served as a team captain. Following his playing career, he earned a bachelor’s of science degree in physical education in 1997.
Odums has also been an assistant at Georgia Southern and GardnerWebb.
Dawson Odums
Southern University Baton Rouge, December 19, 2012, introduced Dawson Odoms as the new head football coach for the Jaguars.
He spent two seasons at Georgia Southern where he coached linebackers in 2000 and in 2001 coached the Eagles defensive ends. The 2000 season was a special year for Odums as he assisted the Eagles to the Division I-AA (now Football Championship Subdivision) National Championship.
Odums’ previous title of defensive coordinator changed to interim head coach two games into Southern’s 2012 season. The North Carolina native and N.C. Central graduate proceeded to lead the Jaguars to wins over Jackson State and against Florida A&M after an 0-2 start, claiming the programs first consecutive win streak since 2009.
Odums continues to improve his coaching philosophy and techniques by attending various professional development based coaching camps and conferences. He was recently selected to participate in the 2011 NCAA Expert Coaches Academy in Orlando, Florida. In 2010, he was one of only 25 coaches selected from thousands of applicants to participate in the NCAA Coaches Academy in Indianapolis. The Academy is designed to train minorities for head coaching positions.
Odums arrived at Southern in 2011 as the defensive line coach after a threeyear stint at N.C. A&T where he served as the Aggies’ co-defensive coordinator in 2010 and defensive line coach in 2009.
“Coach Odums’ tutelage under great coaches as a player and assistant, coupled with his advanced study and training via the Coaches Academies showed in the interview,” said SU
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Bayou Classic trophy returns to the ‘Bluff ’--The Bayou Classic trophy is back in its place on the Bluff after the Southern University Jaguars defeated the Grambling State University Tigers 38-33 in the 39th Annual Bayou Classic, Saturday, November 24, 2012, in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
Ovations