Purdue wants to hire UNLV’s Barry Odom as coach, sources said

UNLV football coach Barry Odom has agreed to take the head coaching job at Purdue, sources told ESPN on Sunday.

Odom has long been a priority candidate for the Boilermakers, and Purdue officials traveled to Las Vegas to meet with him, sources said.

At UNLV, Odom posted a 19-8 record in two seasons and led the Rebels to back-to-back Mountain West championship game appearances. UNLV (10-3) lost to Boise State 21-7 in the MWC title game on Friday night.

Odom, who also coached at Missouri for four seasons, is a sought-after candidate based on his recent success and coaching resume.

He will replace Ryan Walters, who went 5-19 in two seasons at Purdue and was fired at the end of the season after an 11-game losing streak.

Odom emerged as a leading candidate this cycle after picking up road wins against Houston and Kansas to start the season. UNLV continued to thrive following the sudden departure of quarterback Matthew Sluka, who transferred after the Rebels’ 3-0 start.

Odom brings a defensive background, having been a star linebacker at Missouri and working as a defensive coordinator at Memphis, Missouri and Arkansas.