After news broke earlier Friday that Arkansas was set to hire Barry Odom as the Razorbacks' defensive coordinator, head coach Sam Pittman confirmed the move later in the afternoon on SEC Network.

"Well, I can tell you this — that I'm ecstatic that he's in his car headed down to Fayetteville as we speak," Pittman told The Paul Finebaum Show. "Yes, I'm ecstatic. Really, Paul, I felt like I needed a guy on my staff that had been a head coach and one that I could lean on and talk to. And there's really not a better person out there and a finer coach, finer man than Barry Odom. And I'm just blessed, he's in his car heading down here."

Pittman, who was introduced Tuesday by Arkansas after the Razorbacks hired him away from Georgia where he was the Bulldogs' associate head coach offensive line coach, was sold on Odom as a potential staff member.

"There's no doubt," Pittman said of Odom's defensive expertise and coaching experience. "And when I interviewed him, Paul, I said, 'You know, I think I could put together — I know I can put together — an outstanding staff. But I want, on that staff, some people that's had head coaching experience.' And if I can get Barry, who's been a head coach in the Southeastern Conference, I just thought it'd be so much help to me and I'm sure that it will."

Confirmed by HawgSports.com Friday as Pittman's defensive coordinator after an initial report from FootballScoop, Odom brings much-needed experience to the developing Arkansas staff.

Odom spent four years as Missouri's head coach from 2016-19. He finished his tenure by going 25-25 overall across 50 games. The Tigers finished the 2019 campaign at 6-6 overall and beat the Razorbacks 24-14 in the final game of the season 24-14. Missouri fired the 43-year-old Odom Nov. 30.

Odom has spent the majority of his career at Mizzou. He was a linebacker for the Tigers from 1996 to 1999, and he finished his career with 362 tackles. The Lawton, Oklahoma, native helped turn things around for the program as a player.

Before becoming the head coach of the Tigers, Odom spent several years in administrative roles, including assistant athletic director, director of football operations and director of football recruiting. He moved back to the field in 2011 as a safeties coach for the Tigers before moving onto Memphis in 2012.

As a defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Memphis, he helped coach the Tigers to a record of 10-3. His defense played a big role in their success, as they finished fifth nationally in scoring defense while allowing only 17.1 points per game. Memphis won a share of the 2014 American Athletic Conference title. He returned to his alma mater as a defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2015.

"Knowing Barry Odom, that's one of the smartest things I have heard from a coach in a long time," Finebaum said, "because forget his defensive prowess, we all know how good he is, but his experience, I can only only imagine would be a great service to (Pittman)."