Coach Odums: "We're about to go on a journey" | Events

Saying "we're about to go on a journey," Dawson Odums officially accepted his new job title as the 20th head football coach at Southern University during a news conference on campus Tuesday morning.

"This is not really about me," Coach Odums said.  "We're about go to on a journey that will take all of us. All of you play a part in it also. We want everybody to be a part of this journey so let's get Southern University back to what we once knew it was."  

Odums was named the interim head coach in September after Coach Stump Mitchell was fired. He was one of two leading candidates for the job. Odoms led Southern to a 4-5 record this season. His hiring was unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors Friday, Dec. 14.

"I'm making no predictions," Odums says.  "I'm just a hardworking country boy."

He said he would focus on recuiting players from the state because when Southern was winning many of the players came from Louisiana.

"We've got to do a better job of claiming the state of Louisiana," he says.  "We're trying to recruit local, state, Baton Rouge, and everywhere in between to find young men interested in Southern University.  We're going to throw out the red carpet."

Odums proposed contract calls for two-years and $140,000 base pay with a third year option. His package would also include $23,200 in guaranteed perks and $72, 500 in performance incentives.

The contract must be approved by the board in January. 

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