A welcoming ceremony was held Tuesday morning at Suwannee High School for new head football coach Jerry Odom.

“Everybody has been good to me,” Odom said. “I look forward to working here. To me it’s an honor, when I was growing up Suwannee was well known…and to have a chance to come here and build something is not only an honor but a huge challenge and I look forward to that challenge.”

In attendance were Odom, Superintendent of Schools Jerry Scarborough, SHS principal Dawn Lamb, administrators and players.

Odom has been coaching football for about 19 years beginning as a graduate defensive assistant under Steve Spurrier at the University of Florida. He coached for TCU and East Carolina University as well. His expertise ranges from special teams coordinator to defensive coordinator. Odom also spent a season as assistant head coach for the Philadelphia Soul in the Arena Football League. His time as head coach at Coffee County High School gave the program its best record in 25 years, according to the school’s Web site. He started at Coffee in 2005.

Odom said he sees athletics as a tool to help students further their education.

“We need to get these kids to further their education,” said Odom. “That’s what part of being a coach at this level is about. The kids can always come to me.”

Odom said his experiences at UF and in the Arena Football League have given better organizational skills and greater in-depth knowledge of the game.

“When you do that for 6-7 years and you do it full time you grow,” said Odom. “I took things from Spurrier (and other coaches). I think you grow with each coach you’re with.”

Odom plans to move to the area this spring. He and wife Donna have three sons, Victor, 21, Reid, 10 and Clay, 6.

Odom was named coach Feb. 4 by a search committee formed by Scarborough.