Jerry Odom - GatorZone.com

Jerry Odom
Outside Linebackers,
Special Teams Coordinator
Coaching Experience
Bowl Games as
a Coach/Player
1987: Aloha
1988: All-American
1989: Freedom
1992: Sugar
1992: Gator
2001: Sugar
2002: Orange
2002 Florida (Special Teams Coordinator/OLBs)
2001 Florida (Inside Linebackers)
2000 Florida (Graduate Assistant)
1996-99 New Smyrna Beach High School, New
Smyrna Beach, Florida (Assistant Head
Coach, Defensive Coordinator)
1995-96 Apopka High School, Apopka Florida
(Linebackers)
1994 Colonial High School, Orlando, Florida
(Offensive Coordinator)
1993 Texas Christian (Graduate Assistant)
1991-92 Florida (Student Assistant)
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COACHING
Coaching
Accomplishments
● Joined the UF staff full-time in March of 2001 after
serving as a student assistant for the 1991-92 seasons
and a graduate assistant for the 2000 season. He
replaced Bob Sanders who was hired as linebackers
coach by the Miami Dolphins.
● Coached on four UF bowl teams and played in three
more as a UF player. Made four Arena Bowl appearances
as a player for the Orlando Predators, including a
1998 Arena Football League Championship.
● The 2001 Gators defense ranked first in the SEC
and ninth in the nation in total defense (290.2 ypg) and
it also led the SEC and ranked fifth in the country in scoring
defense (14.1 ppg).
● In 2001, the Gator defense was one of only six units
in the nation to rank in the top 15 in the country in total
defense (9th), scoring defense (5th), rushing defense
(13th), and pass efficiency defense (13th).
● In 2001, Florida’s defense yielded just 19 total TDs
in 11 games, a total that ranked among the four fewest
in the nation. UF’s five toucdown passes allowed
over the course of the year ranked tied for the fewest
in the nation
● Coached on the 2000 SEC Championship team.
● Middle linebacker Andra Davis was a semifinalist for
the 2001 Butkus Award (nation’s top linebacker) and a
first-team All-SEC selection and second-team All-
America selection
● Worked with a 2000 UF defense that led the nation
in forced turnovers with 40, the fifth best total in UF
history and the most since forcing 41 on 1981. The
2000 UF defense also recorded a school-record 24
interceptions, a sum that ranked second in the nation to
Louisville’s 27.
● Helped New Smyrna Beach High School to 4A
District Championships in 1997, 1998 and 1999 and
Sectional Championships in 1998 and 1999.
● Worked with the outside linebackers as a student
assistant for the 1991 and 1992 seasons at Florida, helping
the Gators to the 1991 SEC Championship and a
Sugar Bowl berth and the inaugural SEC Championship
Game in 1992 and a Gator Bowl berth.
Playing
Career
● Florida (1987-90), Four-year
Letterwinner at ILB who started
every game his junior and senior
seasons on a defense that was
among the nation’s top five in
total defense in both 1989 and
1990. Led the 1990 team in
tackles. Named to the All-SEC
Freshman team in 1987 and was
an SEC Academic Honor Roll
selection in 1990.
● Captain on 1990 UF team
(Steve Spurrier’s first Gator team)
which finished tied for first in the
SEC standings
● Orlando Predators of the
Arena Football League (1992-98),
Played RB and LB for the
Predators, helping them to four
The Odom family (left to
right): Coach Jerry
Odom, wife Donna and
son Reid.
Arena Bowl appearances (1992, 1994, 1995 and 1998)
with an Arena Bowl Championship in 1998. Named All-
Arena in 1993 and was a member of the 1992 Arena
League All-Rookie team. Retired as Orlando’s career rushing
yardage leader and ranked fifth in AFL history.
● Merritt Island High School (1983-86), All-America
selection and a two-time All-State linebacker.
Prominent
Players Coached
● LB Andra Davis — A semifinalist for the 2001
Butkus Award (nation’s top linebacker), and a secondteam
All-America and first-team All-SEC choice. Fifth
round selection in the 2002 NFL draft by the Cleveland
Browns.
NFL PLAYERS
(Round Drafted)
LB Travis Carroll (FA) - Florida ‘01 – New Orleans
Saints
LB Andra Davis (5th) - Florida ‘01 – Cleveland
Browns
Personal Information
Birthdate: November 7, 1968
Hometown: Merritt Island, Florida
Education: 1991 – B.A. in Health and Human
Performance with a history minor from Florida;
1987 – Merritt Island High School in Merritt
Island, Fla.
Marital Status: Married to the former
Donna Carter
Children: Reid (3)