Odems joins Bobcats

Posted: Feb 1, 2012 6:14 PM by Scott Breen - Q2 Sports

BOZEMAN - Rob Ash has admired Demo Odems for years. On Wednesday, he made the former University of Iowa running back and highly successful Texas high school coach part of his Montana State football coaching staff.

Ash tabbed the Austin, Tex., high school coach to mentor Bobcat running backs. Like Ash, Odems traces his football roots to the state of Iowa, and brings dynamic and diverse backgrounds as a coach and recruiter to the Montana State, and strengthens the Bobcats' recruiting ties to Texas.

"Demo is an outstanding, veteran coach who really wants to get back into coaching college football," Ash said. "We'll plug him in and keep on going. He really knows offensive football and relates well to players. He will be an excellent addition to our staff."

Ash's admiration for Odems began during his time at Iowa, where he played for Hayden Fry. "I've always followed the Hawkeyes and I remember Demo as a player," Ash said. He replaces Kerry Dixon, who accepted a position at Florida Atlantic.

Odems comes to MSU from Lyndon B. Johnson High School in Austin, Tex., from which he graduated in 1992. Odems' LBJ team finished 6-4 in 2011, winning the school's first outright district title since 1995. Odems was 22-19 in four years at his alma mater, and was 0-9 during one season at Johnston High. He served as a graduate assistant at Iowa and Wisconsin (2006), and as receivers coach at Arkansas-Monticello.

Odems played running back in high school, and played running back and receiver at Iowa. He came to the attention of Ash, who had followed his career as a Hawkeye, through assistant coaches who had recruited in the Austin area.

"When were in (Austin) to see Kody Grelle (in 2011) I went over to see Demo because Bo (Beck) had told me this is an impressive young coach that I should meet," Ash said. "I was very impressed with him, and we had stayed in touch. And I have a comfort level with him because of my acquaintances (at Iowa and Wisconsin). His high school was heavily recruited and I know that he has seen recruiting from the other side of the desk. He's just a perfect fit in my mind. And he'll be recruiting Texas, that's a huge part of the assignment in my mind."

Ash hopes the process of bringing an offensive coordinator on board culminates in the next two weeks.