CLINTON, Miss. --- Mississippi College and Director of Athletics, Kenny Bizot, announce Bentley Odom as the head volleyball coach, effective May 1, 2024.
 
"We are excited to have Bentley join our Mississippi College family," Bizot said. "We have a team that is hungry to compete at the regional and national level and we think with Bentley's experience at the Division II level, both as a player and coach, she is the one to lead us in the next step."
 
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.
 
"I would like to thank MC President, Dr. Blake Thompson, and Director of Athletics, Kenny Bizot, for giving me the opportunity to lead the Mississippi College Volleyball program. The support that I have already received from MC staff and faculty members has been tremendous," said Odom. "Throughout this process, I have had unwavering faith that the Lord has led me to exactly where I need to be to begin my head coaching career; I look forward to honoring Him as I enter into this next chapter in my life." 
 
During the run, 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.
 
"I have always had immense admiration for the Choctaw volleyball teams that I have had the chance to play and coach against. They have always been hard workers, fighters, and competitors, and have always conducted themselves with respect and grace. I look forward to maintaining those core values of the program while leading it to new success on and off the court," Odom said. "The group of players that I get to enter into the 2024 season with have already proven themselves to be self-motivated and driven to reach their goals; I cannot wait to see what we get to accomplish together moving forward."
 
Last season, the Blue and Gold earned its fifth straight Gulf South Conference Tournament berth. The 2024 edition returns four seniors from last year's team, including All-GSC selection, Lydia Paulette.

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. 
 
Mississippi College opens the 2024 slate on Friday, Sept. 6 as they travel to Arkadelphia, Ark., for the Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University-hosted, Reddie-Tiger Invitational.