Odom secures huge raise in Purdue contract after leaving UNLV

To say Barry Odom increased his salary by leaving the UNLV football team would be a massive understatement.

The new Purdue coach signed a six-year contract worth a minimum of $39 million, according to details released by the school Tuesday.

After earning a package of $1.75 million this season with the Rebels before incentives, Odom will make at least $6 million per year in his first two seasons with the Boilermakers.

The amount explains why UNLV athletic director Erick Harper laughed and pointed out the Big Ten conference’s “deep pocket” when asked if the Rebels attempted to counter Purdue’s offer.

Odom’s new deal includes annual raises after the first two seasons, increasing by $250,000 each year before reaching $7 million in his fifth year. In the final year of the contract, Odom’s base salary will reach $7.25 million.

Additionally, Odom could make up to $1.5 million from academic, performance and “personal incentive” bonuses. At UNLV, he was eligible to earn $445,000 in athletic performance bonuses, and there was an extra $20,000 up for grabs each season if the team met certain academic standards.

Odom’s $6 million at Purdue would have been tied with Michigan coach Sherrone Moore for 35th highest in the country and 13th in the Big Ten last season, according to USA Today.

Purdue is also liable to pay the $3 million buyout Odom owes UNLV for breaking the contract extension he signed earlier this year. If Odom were to leave for another job before January 2026, Purdue would be owed $6 million. His buyout decreases by $1 million for each of the following three years.

If Odom were to be fired without cause, Purdue would owe him 75 percent of his remaining base salary.

Waiting for LA Bowl

Although Purdue didn’t disclose the amount allotted for Odom’s new staff, previous coach Ryan Walters’ contract reportedly included up to $5.5 million for 10 assistant coaches and a strength and conditioning coach.

The financial details were released on the same day Odom was introduced as the Boilermakers’ coach. During the news conference, he was asked if he’d already determined which members of his UNLV staff would join him at Purdue.

Standout offensive coordinator Brennan Marion is the largest question mark for Rebels fans, but defensive coordinator Mike Sherer and strength coach Jeff Fish are a few additional names UNLV stands to lose.

Odom said there are “ongoing conversations with a number of coaches” from UNLV and beyond, adding that he wants to wait to engage out of respect for the need for teams and coaches to focus on their respective bowl games.

“I’ve got a really good list of guys that are certainly attracted to wanting to work here,” Odom said. “In the next few days we’ll have some that join us from outside. I don’t want to put a time frame on that because I may miss it a couple of days with bowl competitions going on, then the ability to get them here. … But we will put together an elite staff that will help us get this off the floor and moving in the right direction really quickly.”

Without Odom, UNLV is set to play in the LA Bowl on Dec. 18. Wide receivers coach Del Alexander was named the interim coach, but Marion is still expected to continue calling plays for the game as of Tuesday, a team spokesperson said.

Odom’s son, freshman linebacker JT Odom, who appeared in a single game for the Rebels this season, will participate in the bowl game as well, Odom’s wife, Tia Odom, said on X.

Recruiting realities

Odom faced questions about recruiting and name, image and likeness payments during the news conference.

When asked how many Rebels he expected to transfer to Purdue, Odom lauded the “family” culture he established at UNLV, along with the relationships he’s built through previous recruiting efforts.

“We will have a number of guys that will want to follow us from the different stops (where) I’ve been, or maybe (players that I) have missed out in a recruiting battle with somebody somewhere else, then they want to come back and play for me and for our staff,” Odom said. “That’s ongoing. The portal is open. There will be guys that have an opportunity to get in, and we’ll have conversations at that point.”

NIL money is always a plus in the recruiting battle, and Purdue athletic director Mike Bobinski said Odom’s new team will have plenty of it to attract transfers and top high school recruits.

“We’re going to operate at the full cap,” Bobinski said. “We’re going to be as resourced as anybody in the country, allowing Barry and his staff the ability to go out there and be eyeball to eyeball with everybody we’re competing for.”

Odom has already landed two commitments to Purdue from Fayetteville High School in Arkansas: quarterback Garyt Odom, his youngest son, and linebacker Parker Meese. Both were part of the highly regarded recruiting class UNLV announced last week.

Sluka question

Barry Odom was also asked about former Rebels quarterback Matthew Sluka leaving three games into the season over an alleged $100,000 NIL commitment he claims was never paid. Odom maintained that he and his staff were in the right.

“There was very open communication from the day the recruiting process started,” Odom said.

He said the quarterback battle between Sluka and Hajj-Malik Williams continued into the season, implying that the competition spurred the “NIL dispute.”

Williams took over after Sluka left and led the Rebels back to the Mountain West title game.

“Everything that we did as a staff, as a university, as an athletic department was by the book and by the law. I feel very, very strongly about how we handled that,” Odom said. “I wish Matthew great success at his next stop. He’s a wonderful young man. I think he will go somewhere and play really well.”

Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com. Follow @CallieJLaw on X.