Since West Marion first established its softball program in 1998, there has been one constant: Mike McMullin as the head coach. But in 2022, with McMullin retiring, Cory Odom will be leading the Lady Trojans on the diamond as they hunt their first state title.
A graduate of West Marion, Odom said it’s a blessing to be tabbed to lead the Lady Trojans program, especially because his entire family are Trojans through and through with his wife and brother both being graduates of West Marion and his children currently attending the school.
“Sports were a big part of my life at West Marion. Coach Mac (McMullin) was my football coach, and I’ve had a relationship for so many years. Baseball and all that were a big part of who I was and helped shaped me. To get the privilege to come back and coach at a place that had such an impact on my life is a real cool thing to get to do,” he said.
Odom assisted McMullin with the softball program for six years, so he’s very familiar with the players as they are with him. He aims to build on what McMullin has done and wants to establish a competitive culture and a culture of excellence. Through developing the younger athletes to be stronger and faster, he wants to bring a South State championship to the West side.
“My overall goal would be to make sure our girls are successful on the field and off the field,” he said. “My goal is for them to not only be able to hit a fastball but to have a successful career and use sports to teach them how to be a better citizen, a better mother or whatever they want to do in life.”
On top of coaching as an assistant for the Lady Trojans, Odom has a lot of experience coaching little league and all-star teams. He’s coached Gracie Odom, his daughter and West Marion’s star shortstop, since she was 6 years old, and he’s coached his son’s (Reece) teams for three years as well. Odom and Gracie have talked about what it’s going to be like with him as the head coach now, and he said it can be both a blessing and a curse to coach your own child.
“I have a tendency to be a little harder on her than everybody else, but I want to cherish every moment,” he explained. “I think it’s a great opportunity to watch her grow, be a part of something she loves and support her in that. As a coach, I’m going to have to guide her. But to be able there and help her chase her dream and have a front-row seat to that, it’s going to be a blessing.”
While he is yet to make his debut as a high school head coach, Odom said he does have some experience making the transition from being an assistant to being the man in charge. Odom, who is the lead pastor at Morgantown Church of God, rose up from being the associate pastor and knows that transition is a difficult one.
“I found out real quick when you change those shoes, it’s a lot different. In the associate role, obviously I’m there as a coach but also in a supportive role to the head coach. A lot of the decisions and a lot of the strategy falls on the head coach. I realize it’s going to be different but in a good way,” he said. “I’m excited about it. It’s definitely going to be different because now it falls on me to get the girls ready, to lay the strategy out, to lay the vision out and to get them prepared. Those shoes are definitely different.”
After working as a paraprofessional for six years, Odom will also be making the transition to being a full-time teacher. He will teach seventh-grade science at West Marion after completing a degree in physical education with endorsements in social studies and science at Southern Miss.
Coming off an 11-4 season, the Lady Trojans return a lot of talent with Olivia Miler (C-P Pitcher of the Year), Paris Thompson (C-P Offensive Player of the Year), Samaria Pittman, Jacelyn Terrell, Gracie Odom (C-P Breakout Star of the Year) and more. Odom said he believes the future is very bright with the really good young talent, and he really likes West Marion’s ability to compete deep into the playoff for the next few years.
“I’m excited. Sky is sort of the limit. The good thing about it is a lot of our younger girls have been around the sport. They’ve all played rec ball or all played travel ball,” he said. “All I’m going to have to do is guide them a little bit. That’s good to know that I don’t have to start from scratch. They already know the game.”
Odom wants to make some upgrades to Hilton and Ruby Holmes Field, particularly raising the fence behind home plate that extends to both dugouts up about five feet and adding a net to keep the ball from hitting fans in the stands.
