In each of his two years at UH, Odum developed a member of the Conference USA all-Freshman squad. In 2003, cornerback Ricky Wilson made the newcomer team, followed by strong safety Rocky Schwartz this past season. Odum went to Houston after spending three seasons coaching the defensive backs at Utah State. The Aggies were second in the Big West Conference in interceptions in 2000, and in his final season (2002), USU's pass defense improved 25 places nationally from the previous year. At Montana from 1998-99, Odum coached for the back-to-back Big Sky Conference champions. The Grizzlies led the conference in pass efficiency defense under his direction. All of Odum's backfield starters earned all-conference recognition in 1999, including safety Vince Huntsberger as the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year.

In his two seasons as an on-field graduate assistant at Utah (he was an inside G.A. in 1994), Odum played a larger role than usual. Then-defensive coordinator Whittingham shared the coaching of the safeties in 1996 with Odum, but turned the position over to his talented G.A. in the 1997 season. Odum's other coaching experience includes a 2002 summer internship with the Tennessee Titans, working with the secondary and linebackers. Odum lettered at Utah from 1989-92, starting at cornerback as a freshman and junior. He was a part-time starter for Utah's 1992 Copper Bowl team. He also played centerfield for the Ute baseball team for two seasons.

A native of Irvine, Calif., Odum received a bachelor's of science degree in political science from Utah in 1993. He and his wife, the former Ania Homan, have a son, Dominic.