UNLV football head coach Barry Odom has a new contract that runs through 2028, Director of Athletics Erick Harper announced. The updated terms include an additional year and future retention bonuses.

Odom, 47, became the 13th head coach in UNLV football history in December 2022. In his first season in Las Vegas he led the program to its most wins (9-5) since 1984, a first-place regular-season conference finish and the right to host the Rebels' first appearance in a Mountain West Championship game. UNLV then made its first bowl trip in a decade where it faced Kansas in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Phoenix.

"We are obviously thrilled about what Barry Odom and his staff did in year one leading Rebel football," said Harper. "The program is on an upward trajectory and we could not be more excited about him leading the way. Barry continues to be a man of his word, focusing on growing all phases of the program the right way. He is committed to his players, coaches and staff and with the newly expanded CFP he is laying a foundation that gives Rebel Football a chance to compete at the highest level. I look forward to working with Coach Odom for years to come."

"When I first met Coach Odom a little over a year ago, I shared our expectations for UNLV Football – including that we want our team to compete and win at a high level and be embedded in the incredible culture of our community," said UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield. "He's met many of those expectations after just one year. Coach Odom's exceptional work ethic, strong character, and commitment to success have been evident since day one, and I'm proud of the program he is building and the direction of Rebel Football under his leadership."

Last season, Odom became UNLV's first Mountain West Coach of the Year since 2000 and the program's first-ever finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award along with various other national coach of the year honors. The team also shattered records in the classroom, including the highest cumulative grade point average at 3.22 and boasting the first First Team Academic All-America honoree in program history.

"On behalf of our coaching staff and our football program I'd like to thank President Whitfield, the Board of Regents, and obviously Erick Harper for their sustained commitment not only to myself and our staff, but also to our entire football organization as we continue to grow and elevate our program to a national level," said Odom.

"I'm excited about the foundation we have built in the past 16 months and I certainly look forward to our strong future. I'm thankful for our staff and our student-athletes -- they are on a mission to win a championship. I'm also thankful for the tremendous support we receive from the UNLV community, its fans and business partners and the extraordinary city of Las Vegas as we build a program in which we can all be proud. Together, I'm confident that we will continue to move the program forward and have success."