Mississippi Colege Athletics

Bentley Odom took the helm of the Choctaw volleyball program in the spring 2024.

During her first season, MC made the 2024 Gulf South Conference Tournament - the fifth straight berth for the program. Lydia Paulette earned AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, all-region and Gulf South Conference laurels. Odom became the first Choctaw head coach to post a winning season in their first season.
 
Odom has served and played for some of the brightest and best minds in NCAA volleyball during her playing and coaching career. She comes to MC having served one year as an assistant coach at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. During the 2023 campaign, she helped guide the Lady Buff Volleyball program to the NCAA Division II National Runner-Up title.
 
During the run, the WT compiled a 33-4 record under the guiding eye of 2022 AVCA Division II National Coach of the Year, Kendra Potts. Odom served as the lead positional coach for middle blockers, helping earn All-American Honorable Mention honors, and was the lead skill coach for blocking.
 
The Mobile, Ala, native is no stranger to the Gulf South Conference and the Choctaw program, having served two seasons as a graduate assistant at the University of West Florida under the tutelage of 2021 AVCA All-South Region Coach of the Year Melissa Wolter and AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year Haley Kindall. 
 
During her stint with the Argonauts she helped guide the program to a 63-8 record and worked with middle blockers, where she assisted the Argos in earning All-American honors. She also served as the lead coach for serving. 
 
Odom, who played at Murphy High School in Mobile, played collegiately at Spring Hill College, where she served as a middle and right-side hitter for the Purple and White. She lettered three seasons under head coach Peggy Martin, who compiled 1,464 wins during her nearly five-decade career and a 79.7 winning percentage. 
 
Under Martin’s guidance, the Badgers claimed the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in 2018 and 2019. Odom was a 2019 SIAC All-Conference First Team selection and was a two-time member SIAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team honoree.

Odom earned her Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and English from Spring Hill in 2021. She received her Master of Science in Physical Education and Human Peformance from West Florida in 2023.