Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Newly named University of Virginia men’s basketball head coach Ryan Odom is settling into his role and already making strides in building out his staff and roster. Odom, who comes to UVA after a successful run at VCU, described the transition as intense but exciting. “You never feel like you’ve had enough time in a day,” Odom said of his first few weeks. Still, he added, “We feel good about where we’re at right now, a lot has happened since we took the job, a lot of transitions. You know, both certainly in the roster and then from a staffing perspective.”

Reflecting on his connection to UVA and his coaching philosophy, Odom said the move felt personal and purposeful. “This situation at UVA is something that I know really well. It was home for me,” he said. He praised the university’s leadership, calling it “an honor” to follow in the footsteps of Tony Bennett. Describing his coaching demeanor, Odom shared, “I try to be, you know, poised under pressure… but I’m really competitive.”

Odom plans to implement a high-tempo style of play that emphasizes pressure defense and fast-paced offense. “We want to push the ball in transition. We want to play fast and certainly, you know, take the opportunities when they’re there from the three-point line and at the rim,” he explained. With recruiting well underway and summer training approaching, he said building chemistry is his top priority. “We’ve got to connect them to one another first, and then we’ve got to connect them to our university and our city.”

Listen to the full conversation here: