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Will Muschamp turned down an opportunity to return to Texas as a defensive coordinator, sources told CBS Sports. Arkansas defensive coordinator Barry Odom is among new coach Steve Sarkisian’s top contenders now that Muschamp has handed over the job.
Muschamp was fired in South Carolina in November after posting a 28-30 record in five seasons as a coach. His Texas connection just spent three seasons as defensive coordinator under Mack Brown in Texas from 2008-10. Muschamp was named Brown’s successor as the Longhorns’ stand-by coach in November 2008, but he never saw that promise come to fruition as he decided to take the Florida job in 2010. Brown left the Texas three seasons after Muschamp left, while Muschamp went 28-21 in four years with the Gators.
Odom, 44, had a successful first season as Arkansas defensive coordinator. While the numbers were almost identical from 2019 to 2020, there was an overall improvement in the first year under coach Sam Pittman. Odom took over as interim coach for the only game Pittman missed due to COVID-19.
Odom is a career defensive specialist who helped Missouri compete in back-to-back SEC Championship Games (2013-14) as Gary Pinkel’s defensive coordinator at Missouri from 2012-15. The 2015 unit was sixth nationally in total defense, allowing just over 300 yards per game.
Under Odom, the Razorbacks this season allowed 34.9 points per game, an average of two better than in 2019.
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