Odom’s deal: 6 years, $3.25 million

By Jerry Ratcliffe

According to school records released Tuesday, new basketball coach Ryan Odom nearly doubled his salary by signing with Virginia.

The 50-year-old Odom signed a six-year deal with the Cavaliers for a total package of $3.25 million, with eventual raises and bonuses to come. Odom was paid roughly $1.8 million as head coach at VCU.

At UVA, Odom’s base salary is $500,000, with supplemental compensation at $1.75 million and licensing pay at $1 million. The coach is set to receive $100,000 annual raises through the length of the deal, which will mean in 2030-2031, he’ll be paid $3.75 million. Of course, the contract can be renegotiated.

Virginia also agreed to pay Odom’s $1-million buyout of his previous VCU contract.

Odom’s new buyout at UVA was set at $15 million for the first two years on his contract, should he decide to leave for another job. That number drops dramatically over the length of the contract, down to $10 million in years three and four; $7.5 million in year five and $5 million in the final year of the deal.

Naturally, Odom is being paid less than previous head coach Tony Bennett, who had just agreed to a new deal prior to him deciding to retire from basketball. Bennett’s salary, which didn’t see him making it to the season in 2024-25, was for $4,020.287. That contract was signed in June and Bennett resigned in October.