Update> Memphis’ Commercial Appeal is now reporting that Barry Odom has been offered the job as well; however ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg reports that Memphis plans to interview multiple candidates. AD Tom Bowen will speak with media this afternoon at 4:30. Sources tell us Bowen plans to say he will interview candidates before any official offer is made.

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Following the departure of Justin Fuente to Virginia Tech to take over for Frank Beamer, sources tell FootballScoop that Memphis has extended an offer that would bring back their former defensive coordinator / safeties coach Barry Odom as head coach.

If he accepts, as expected, this would be the first head coaching opportunity for Odom, who spent nine seasons on Gary Pinkel’s staff at Missouri working his way up the ranks from an administrative graduate assistant to DFO, to assistant AD, and finally to safeties coach before leaving to become Fuente’s defensive coordinator at Memphis. While at Memphis, Odom proved to be an invaluable asset to Fuente as his defense helped to completely transform the program.

The decision by the administration to bring Odom back provides a familiar face and message to keep the program headed in the right direction.

Odom left Memphis back in December to take over the defensive coordinator duties on Pinkel’s staff after Mizzou defensive coordinator Dave Steckel left to become the head coach at Missouri State. So this move marks a return for Odom and his family.

Fuente would hand over the keys to Odom after an impressive turnaround and leaves the program in, arguably, the best shape that it has ever been in. The Tigers have won a total of 19 games in the past two seasons (10 last year, and 9 this season). Memphis is currently sitting at 9-3 and just wrapped up an impressive 63-0 win over SMU this past Saturday.

Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.