CHARLOTTESVILLE (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Athletics Director Carla Williams said the facts that Ryan Odom “is a phenomenal coach” who has won at every level, whether Division 2 or Division 1, and loves the University of Virginia made the selection of him as head basketball coach “easy”. Williams addressed the selection with a gathering of reporters after the Odom introductory press conference. She said one of the things they did in the months since Tony Bennett’s retirement and assessment of what the program needs in a new coach involved a reassessment of the program itself “and what’s needed in this new landscape”.

“He had done a really, really good job at Utah State and VCU in this new era, and that was a meaningful part in this decision, too,” Williams said.

Also in the new landscape, she said, “we’ve had to shift the culture to one that’s two feet in on competing at this level” when it comes to NIL money. She said former Hoos basketball star and two-time All-American Barry Parkhill, associate athletics director for development, “has done the lion’s share of fundraising and he’s done a phenomenal job”.

Williams said they’ve just had to “tell Barry go” and they’ve been able to secure the funds to have a top-ten program.