Norfolk State football hires former Southern University coach Dawson Odums

Norfolk State has its new football coach.

Former Southern University coach Dawson Odums has been hired by Norfolk State, the school announced Wednesday.

Odums spent nine seasons with the Jaguars of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, going 63-35 overall and 53-17 in the conference. Southern won the SWAC West Division titles four times and the conference championship in 2013.

“Sometimes your blessing isn’t where you currently stand,” Odums said at his introductory press conference. “It’s in your next destination. I prayed about it. I didn’t make an overnight decision. ... Norfolk State happened at the right time. It was time to embrace a new journey and I’m grateful for that opportunity.”

Odums is a native of Shelby, North Carolina, and played for North Carolina Central, one of the six remaining football-playing teams in the MEAC. NSU will play at N.C. Central on Nov. 6.

“With his unprecedented success on the field and his ability to successfully build a program athletically and academically, I look forward to having him at the helm of NSU football,” NSU athletic director Melody Webb said.

Odums replaces Latrell Scott, who resigned in March to become the passing game coordinator and tight ends coach for East Carolina. Scott went 21-35 in five seasons with the Spartans.

NSU returns a strong core of players led by senior quarterback Juwan Carter, who led the MEAC in passing yards (2,631) in 2019 and set a school record with 23 touchdown passes.

Several current and former players were vocal on social media about wanting to make coach B.T. Sherman’s interim position permanent while threatening to enter the NCAA transfer portal if it didn’t happen. Sherman was previously NSU’s assistant head coach and running backs coach for four years.

“B.T. Sherman is OUR guy, the man we want at the helm,” senior offensive lineman Jalen Powell said on Twitter on April 14.

Sherman led Norfolk State’s spring practices until COVID-19 protocols cut them short and the Green and Gold spring game was cancelled. When the Spartans take the field Sept. 4 against Toledo, it will be the team’s first game since Nov. 23, 2019.

Decisions have not been made on the current coaching staff and if any will remain with the team.

Ray Nimmo, 757-446-2364, ray.nimmo@pilotonline.com