Will Muschamp turned down the opportunity to return to Texas as defense coordinator, sources told CBS Sports. Arkansas defense coordinator Barry Odom is one of the best candidates for new coach Steve Sarkisian now that Muschamp has held the post.
Muschamp was sacked by South Carolina in November after setting a 28-30 record as a coach in five seasons. His commitment to Texas comes from spending three seasons as the defense coordinator under Mack Brown in Texas from 2008-10. Muschamp was named Longhorns’ successor in November 2008, but he never saw the promise fulfilled since he decided in 2010 in Florida. Brown left Texas three seasons after Muschamp’s departure, while Muschamp won 28-21 with the Gators within four years.
Odom, 44, had a successful first season as a defense coordinator in Arkansas. While the numbers were nearly identical from 2019 to 2020, there was overall improvement in the first year under coach Sam Pittman. Odom took over as acting coach for the one game that Pittman missed due to COVID-19.
Odom is a career defense specialist who helped Missouri support the SEC Championship Games (2013-14) as Gary Pinkel’s 2012-15 Missouri defense coordinator. The 2015 unit finished nationally sixth in total defense, allowing for just over 300 yards per game.
Under Odom, the Razorbacks allowed 34.9 points per game this season, an average of two better than in 2019.