February 9th, 2026 8:00am
Bowie State has hired coaching veteran Dawson Odums to be the next head coach of the Bulldog program. Odums has more than a decade of head coaching experience in Division I. He had a successful nine-year stint as head coach at Southern University where he won four division titles, the 2013 SWAC Championship, and compiled an overall record of 63-35. His record in confernce play during his tenure was an impressive 53-17. After his time at Southern, Odums went on to lead a struggling Norfolk State program for four years. His debut season in 2021 produced the Spartans' only winning season since 2011 (6-5).
After leaving Norfolk State, Odums spent parts of 2025 participating in the NFL's Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program. Odums was involved with the Jacksonville Jaguars training camp, leading into the 2025 season.
He will succeed Kyle Jackson who completed his tenure at Bowie State with consecutive losing seasons. Jackson's contract was not renewed following the conclusion of the 2025 season. The Bulldogs finished that campaign with just three wins. The Bulldogs are looking to make their way back to the top of the CIAA. Bowie State won three consecutive CIAA Championships in 2018 through 2021.