ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 10, 1996 TAG: 9604100063
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wake Forest basketball coach Dave Odom, who has led the Demon Deacons to consecutive ACC titles, agreed to a contract extension with the school Tuesday.
Terms of the contract were not disclosed by the private university. However, Odom and athletic director Ron Wellman said they would like the former Virginia assistant to remain on the Wake bench until he retires.
``I wanted a contract that was good for both sides - both for me and the university,'' Odom said. ``I have no idea how many years would be good for both sides, but I know I would like to stay here and finish coaching.''
Wellman said Odom ``will be leading our basketball program for the foreseeable future.''
Odom had asked for and received permission recently to talk to N.C. State about its vacant coaching position, but no basketball coach in the ACC had ever switched head coaching positions within the league.
N.C. State athletic director Todd Turner worked at Virginia when Odom was an assistant there in the late 1980s.
``We did have two conversations on the phone, but we readily agreed that it was not in Dave Odom's, N.C. State's, Wake Forest's or the Atlantic Coast Conference's best interests that the idea of me coming there ever be seriously considered by either party,'' Odom said.
Odom had time left on his current contract - more than one year, he said - but he and Wellman began talks before last season about a contract extension. He said the N.C. State rumors did not hasten those negotiations.
``I never felt pressured by it, because I knew what was happening,'' Odom said. ``I knew I was being treated fairly by Wake Forest, and knew I wanted to stay.''
Odom, the ACC coach of the year in 1991, '94 and '95, has compiled a 142-72 record in seven seasons at Wake. He has led the Demon Deacons to the NCAA Tournament six straight seasons.
``Being a head coach at the Atlantic Coast Conference level requires complete unanimity,'' said Odom. ``Success is impossible without the complete support of your administration, faculty, staff, student body and fans, and I am indebted to everyone for that support, as well as our close-knit basketball family. I truly feel fortunate.''
Odom's 66-percent winning percentage is the best at Wake since 1922. His 142 victories rank third all-time behind Murray Greason (288) and Carl Tacy (222).
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