Odom named Mizzou head football coach, news conference at 12 p.m.

Barry Odom lands his dream job. Former Mizzou linebacker and defensive coordinator Barry Odom was named the head football coach at the University of Missouri Thursday.

A news conference is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m. on KMIZ, but you can also watch that here.

Watch the team’s reaction here to the announcement that broke around 8 p.m. Thursday.

Odom replaces Gary Pinkel, Mizzou’s all-time wins leader with 118 victories.

“We are extremely excited to announce Barry Odom as the new leader of the Mizzou football program,” Mizzou athletic director Mack Rhoades said in a statement. “We had the opportunity to visit with a number of excellent coaches throughout our search. At the conclusion of that process, Coach Odom was the clear choice to serve as our next coach.”

“I’m tremendously honored to have this opportunity,” said Odom in a statement through the University of Missouri. “It’s something I’ve thought about for a long time as I’ve made my various stops leading up to this point. I understand the responsibility we have to not only carry on the tradition of excellence that Gary Pinkel has built here, but also to help this program reach new heights.”

Odom played linebacker at Missouri from 1996-1999. He spent time within the MU program after his playing career, starting as a graduate assistant in 2003 and worked his way up to safeties coach until 2011.

He then spent three seasons as Memphis’ defensive coordinator before returning to Missouri for the same position earlier this season.

Odom was also the head coach at Rock Bridge high school from 2001 to 2002.

Mizzou also announced Odom will be unveiled as its new head coach during a news conference on Friday, December 4. The event starts at Noon on Mizzou Arena’s main floor and is open to the public.