Mizzou hires Odom as defensive coordinator

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri has hired former player and assistant coach Barry Odom as defensive coordinator to replace Dave Steckel, hired as head coach at Missouri State earlier this month.

The 38-year-old Odom was defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Memphis the previous three seasons. He will also coach linebackers at Missouri and will join the team after Steckel coaches in the Citrus Bowl.

The school said in a release Tuesday that contract details were being finalized.

Memphis finished 10-3 and had one of the top defenses in the country.

Odom played linebacker at Missouri from 1996 to 1999 and finished his career ranked fifth with 362 tackles. For nine seasons, from 2003 to 2011, he had a variety of roles under coach Gary Pinkel.