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The University of Utah Athletics
Derrick Odum Named Utah Football Safeties Coach
1/3/2026 12:00 PM | Football
Former Utah safety, assistant coach joins Morgan Scalley’s inaugural coaching staff
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah football head coach Morgan Scalley has tabbed Derrick Odum to coach the Utes' safeties, Scalley announced on Saturday. Odum, a Utah alumnus and 28-year coaching veteran, has most recently served as San José State's defensive coordinator for nine seasons—as well as associate head coach for his final eight years with the Spartans.
He takes over the safeties room from Scalley, who coached the group from 2008 through '25. Odum previously served three seasons as Utah's safeties coach from 2005-07.
"Derrick is a Utah Man that is one of the best teachers and evaluators I have been around," Scalley said. "He has a proven track record of developing some of the best defensive backs in the country and brings a wealth of knowledge from having coordinated defense for the past nine years. We are excited to bring him home!"
At SJSU, Odum coached two players to win Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year in defensive end Cade Hall (2020) and defensive tackle Viliami Fehoko (2022). The duo were each named All-Americans and among 14 Spartans to earn First Team All-Mountain West under Odum. In 2023, Fehoko and Hall were each named to the 25th Season Mountain West Football Team.
"I'm really excited for the opportunity to return home where it all started for me and be a part of Coach Scalley's inaugural staff," Odum said. "The culture here for winning has been long established and I'm looking forward to doing my part in contributing to the program's future success. Whether in the classroom or on the field these men exemplify greatness. A Utah Man Am I! Go Utes!"
The team punched postseason bowl tickets in four of Odum's final six seasons, including three in a row from 2022-24—a feat not previously accomplished by the program.
Odum's 2024 defense combined for 28 takeaways, a league-best in the Mountain West and fifth-most in FBS. 21 of the 28 were interceptions, putting the Spartans second in the nation.
Fehoko keyed a 2022 defense that led the league with 39 sacks and finished fifth in FBS with 3.27 sacks per game. The Spartans also had 7.4 tackles for loss per game—good for eighth in the country—and led the MWC in the regular season with a plus-12 turnover margin. Fehoko, Hall and Kyle Harmon each were named All-MWC First Team.
San José State won the MWC Championship in 2020 after going a perfect 6-0 in league play. The team had its best scoring defense in 30 years and finished 15th in the country, while finishing the year ninth in FBS in red zone defense and 10th in quarterback sacks. The Spartans were ranked No. 24 in the final AP poll.
Before joining the Spartans, Odum served as Oregon State's defensive backs coach in 2015 and '16. He tutored cornerback Xavier Crawford, who earned a starting spot as a freshman on the 2016 Beavers team and was named an FWAA Freshman All-American.
He coached the SMU secondary from 2008-14, helping the Mustangs to back-to-back Conference USA championships in 2009 and '10. Kenneth Acker and Richard Crawford were both NFL Draft and first-team all-conference selections.
During his first stint at his alma mater Odum coached the safeties, highlighted by 2006 consensus All-American Eric Weddle. Weddle was also a two-time Mountain West Defensive MVP before being drafted by the San Diego Chargers, while Steve Tate and Casey Evans also were all-conference picks. Utah led the NCAA in pass efficiency defense in 2007 and was fifth in scoring defense.
Prior to Utah, he coached the secondary at Houston (2003-04), Utah State (2000-02) and Montana (1998-99). He was on Ron McBride's staff at Utah as a graduate assistant from 1995-97.
Odum was a two-sport athlete at Utah, playing as a defensive back from 1989-92 as well as lettering in baseball during 1992 and '93. He hit .333 during his final baseball season as Utah won a then-school record 31 games.
Odum graduated from the U in 1993 with a degree in political science. He has three children, Dominic, Jeremiah and Ryann.
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He takes over the safeties room from Scalley, who coached the group from 2008 through '25. Odum previously served three seasons as Utah's safeties coach from 2005-07.
"Derrick is a Utah Man that is one of the best teachers and evaluators I have been around," Scalley said. "He has a proven track record of developing some of the best defensive backs in the country and brings a wealth of knowledge from having coordinated defense for the past nine years. We are excited to bring him home!"
At SJSU, Odum coached two players to win Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year in defensive end Cade Hall (2020) and defensive tackle Viliami Fehoko (2022). The duo were each named All-Americans and among 14 Spartans to earn First Team All-Mountain West under Odum. In 2023, Fehoko and Hall were each named to the 25th Season Mountain West Football Team.
"I'm really excited for the opportunity to return home where it all started for me and be a part of Coach Scalley's inaugural staff," Odum said. "The culture here for winning has been long established and I'm looking forward to doing my part in contributing to the program's future success. Whether in the classroom or on the field these men exemplify greatness. A Utah Man Am I! Go Utes!"
The team punched postseason bowl tickets in four of Odum's final six seasons, including three in a row from 2022-24—a feat not previously accomplished by the program.
Odum's 2024 defense combined for 28 takeaways, a league-best in the Mountain West and fifth-most in FBS. 21 of the 28 were interceptions, putting the Spartans second in the nation.
Fehoko keyed a 2022 defense that led the league with 39 sacks and finished fifth in FBS with 3.27 sacks per game. The Spartans also had 7.4 tackles for loss per game—good for eighth in the country—and led the MWC in the regular season with a plus-12 turnover margin. Fehoko, Hall and Kyle Harmon each were named All-MWC First Team.
San José State won the MWC Championship in 2020 after going a perfect 6-0 in league play. The team had its best scoring defense in 30 years and finished 15th in the country, while finishing the year ninth in FBS in red zone defense and 10th in quarterback sacks. The Spartans were ranked No. 24 in the final AP poll.
Before joining the Spartans, Odum served as Oregon State's defensive backs coach in 2015 and '16. He tutored cornerback Xavier Crawford, who earned a starting spot as a freshman on the 2016 Beavers team and was named an FWAA Freshman All-American.
He coached the SMU secondary from 2008-14, helping the Mustangs to back-to-back Conference USA championships in 2009 and '10. Kenneth Acker and Richard Crawford were both NFL Draft and first-team all-conference selections.
During his first stint at his alma mater Odum coached the safeties, highlighted by 2006 consensus All-American Eric Weddle. Weddle was also a two-time Mountain West Defensive MVP before being drafted by the San Diego Chargers, while Steve Tate and Casey Evans also were all-conference picks. Utah led the NCAA in pass efficiency defense in 2007 and was fifth in scoring defense.
Prior to Utah, he coached the secondary at Houston (2003-04), Utah State (2000-02) and Montana (1998-99). He was on Ron McBride's staff at Utah as a graduate assistant from 1995-97.
Odum was a two-sport athlete at Utah, playing as a defensive back from 1989-92 as well as lettering in baseball during 1992 and '93. He hit .333 during his final baseball season as Utah won a then-school record 31 games.
Odum graduated from the U in 1993 with a degree in political science. He has three children, Dominic, Jeremiah and Ryann.
FOLLOW THE UTES
Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.
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