Jan. 8, 2007

South Carolina head men’s basketball coach Dave Odom has received a two-year contract extension, it was announced today by Carolina Athletics Director Eric Hyman following a meeting of the Executive Committee of the University’s Board of Trustees. The two-year extension puts Odom under contract through the 2009-10 campaign.

“Dave Odom is a tremendous basketball coach and ambassador for the University of South Carolina,” said Hyman. “We have the utmost confidence in his ability to lead our program. We knew when Renaldo Balkman left early for the NBA after last season’s NIT Championship that this would be a transitional year for the program,” noted Hyman. “However, with the talented transfers and outstanding recruiting class on board, we are excited about the future of Carolina Basketball. In addition, we are making academic progress. The Fall, 2006 semester is the third-best academic semester we have had in men’s basketball since Dave has been at Carolina.”

“I am both grateful and appreciative of the confidence shown in me, my staff and our basketball program by Eric and our university,” said Odom. “While I am proud of many of the accomplishments of our past teams, I know that we have much to do to raise Carolina Basketball to a championship level in the SEC and one which is respected nationally. I believe our program is positioned to make the move. I love Carolina and enthusiastically look forward to the future as we work together to make all Gamecock fans proud.”

Odom is in his sixth season at the University of South Carolina, posting a record of 110-72, a .604 winning percentage. He is just the second coach in school history to post four 20-win seasons in his tenure, joining legendary coach Frank McGuire in that distinction. During his first five seasons at Carolina, Odom has guided the Gamecocks to one NCAA Tournament appearance, a pair of NIT Championships and an NIT runner-up finish. Now in his 21st season overall, Odom has posted a 388-247 record (a .611 winning percentage) with nine NCAA and six NIT tournament appearances. He was named ACC Coach of the Year three times while serving as the head coach at Wake Forest University from 1989-2001, is a three-time District Coach of the Year honoree by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association and was the national coach of the year in 1995.