Retrievers coach could fetch big deal

One of the red-hottest names to emerge from the NCAA tournament is that of Ryan Odom, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County coach whose team pulled off the greatest upset in the history of the men’s basketball tournament last week.

The Retrievers were bounced from the tournament in the second round Sunday, but that doesn’t change the fact that big-name schools are going to try to hire Odom, something that UMBC will attempt to avoid.

Tim Hall, the school’s athletic director, told ESPN he plans to bring a long-term contract, complete with a raise, to a meeting with Odom this week. Postponing the inevitable departure of the 43-year-old coach is the goal.

“We need to do within our realm what we can,” Hall said. “I think at some point Ryan wants to (coach) on a bigger stage. I’m just hoping it’s down the road instead of now.”

Odom, the son of former East Carolina, Wake Forest and South Carolina coach Dave Odom, attracted attention from big-name schools even before the tournament and that intensified after the 16th-seeded Retrievers knocked off No. 1 seed (and No. 1 nationally) Virginia. USA Today reported his name was being mentioned for the East Carolina opening and Sunday’s seven-point loss to ninthseeded Kansas State isn’t going to change that.

Two years ago, Odom signed a seven-year contract that pays $230,000 in base salary. If he stays at UMBC, he’ll have a team that will lose seniors Jairus Lyles, K.J. Maura and Jourdan Grant. If he goes, well, real riches await.

“I haven’t even thought about it right now,” Odom said. “I’m their coach. I’m here. I’m sure they ’d like me to be here and I want to still be here.”

If Odom wants to stay put, teams can look at Nevada’s Eric Musselman or Gonzaga’s Mark Few.