Thompson Names First Two Additions to Coaching Staff
December 27, 2002 | Football
The pair are the first coaches named to Thompson's new staff at ECU. Thompson, who comes to ECU from Florida where he served as defensive coordinator this past season, was named as the Pirates' new head coach on Dec. 20.
Odom has served the past three seasons on Florida's defensive coaching staff. In 2002, he coached the Gators' outside linebackers and was special teams coordinator. While working with Thompson, Odom helped Florida's defense rank 22nd nationally overall and third in pass defense. He served as inside linebackers coach in 2001 when UF ranked first in the SEC and ninth in the nation in total defense and fifth in the nation in scoring defense. He also coached on the 2000 SEC Championship team which led the nation with 40 forced turnovers. Among the players he helped develop is Andra Davis, who was a semifinalist for the 2002 Butkus Award (nation's top linebacker) and a second-team All-America choice.
The 34-year-old Odom is a native of Merritt Island, Fla., and was a four-year letterwinner (1987-90) at inside linebacker for the Gators. He led Florida in tackles in 1990, which was Steve Spurrier's first season with the Gators. He went on to play seven seasons in the Arena Football League with the Orlando Predators and retired as the franchise's career rushing yardage leader.
Odom's coaching career includes six seasons (1994-99) as an assistant coach at the high school level, one year as a graduate assistant at TCU, and two seasons as a student assistant at Florida while completing his bachelor's degree.
"I have much respect for Jerry Odom as an aggressive, highly capable defensive coach," Thompson said. "His knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment to winning will be great assets for us at ECU. He is also an outstanding recruiter with a lot of ties that will help us in many ways."
Both Odom and Thompson will remain with the Gators as they participate in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1 against Michigan.
Thompson also announced that Jerry McManus will be retained as the Pirates' running backs coach. McManus recently completed his seventh season at East Carolina and has developed the Pirate rushing attack into a consistent offensive weapon. The Pirates have had two consecutive 1,000-yard rushers--All-American Leonard Henry (1,432 yards) in 2001 and All-Conference USA rusher Art Brown (1,029 yards) this past season. Prior to arriving at ECU in 1996, McManus served nine years at Wake Forest, his alma mater, with his time there split as linebackers coach, recruiting coordinator, and quarterbacks coach. His 24-year collegiate coaching career has also included stops at Connecticut, Tulane, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
"Jerry McManus has done a great job of tying our recruiting efforts together during this transition period over the past few weeks," Thompson said. "He has proven himself as an outstanding coach and experienced recruiter and I am looking forward to working with him."
No further staff announcements will be made until the new year, according to Thompson.
