I was able to get a copy of Ryan Odom’s contract at VCU today, and get this, I didn’t have to file a Freedom of Information Act request to get it.
The folks at VCU Athletics are just that easy to work with.
The reason I wanted to get a look at the contract: to get a sense of what Odom’s buyout is, in the event that he leaves to take another job, say, for example, at UVA, where Odom is reportedly the top candidate for the men’s basketball coaching job.
ICYMI
The buyout for Odom is embarrassingly low. Per the terms of the deal, which he signed in 2023, if he leaves VCU before March 31, he, or more likely, his new employer, would owe VCU a $1 million buyout.
The buyout drops to $800,000 if he leaves after March 31.
Either amount is couch cushion money for the people who write the checks that fund UVA Basketball.
It won’t be hard for the UVA money people to compete with VCU in terms of salary, either.
Reading through his VCU contract, it’s confirmed that Odom is making $1.8 million in total compensation this year, with his contract spelling out $100,000 annual raises for each of the final four years of the deal, which is set to expire on March 31, 2029.
The challenge for everybody involved is timing. The NIL/transfer portal opens on Monday, March 24, and you’re going to want to have a coach in place ahead of that, if at all possible.
The complicating factor there: Odom is currently in Denver, getting his VCU team ready for a first-round game in the NCAA Tournament against BYU on Thursday.
Win that one, and the Rams get a second-round game against the winner of the Wisconsin-Montana game on Saturday.
Another win there, and VCU would get to the Sweet Sixteen, on Thursday, March 27.
Which is three days after the portal opens.
ICYMI
Three of the other four finalists – Shaka Smart (Marquette), TJ Otzelberger (Iowa State) and Ben McCollum (Drake) – are also coaching in the NCAA Tournament.
The fifth, Bob Richey (Furman), is coaching his team in the NIT.
The issue with timing with Odom is potentially an issue for all involved.
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Chris Graham
