Sam Odell was tabbed the fifth head coach in the Division I Era of USC Upstate women's soccer on December 4th, 2025.
Odell arrives in Spartanburg after five highly successful years at Shepherd University. His tenure produced one of the most dramatic program turnarounds in Division I and Division II levels. Shepherd opened the 2021 season 1-15-2 and finished last in the PSAC East. Under Odell's leadership, the Rams rose to an 18-2-4 record, with a 13-1-2 mark in conference play, captured the top seed in the Atlantic Region and spent multiple weeks nationally ranked in the top ten. The 2024 season culminated in both the regular season and postseason PSAC championships, the first titles in Shepherd Athletics history.
In 2025, as reigning PSAC Champions, the Rams repeated their 2024 success and won the PSAC Championship for the second time in school history. They were ranked as high as fifth in the nation. The Rams, under Odell, did not lose a conference away game since October 2023.
Under his guidance, the program excelled academically with nearly three dozen academic all-conference honorees and multiple academic All-Americans. Odell is widely regarded in coaching circles as a true talent developer. He built sustained success while operating within budgets.
A native of Walton-on-Thames, England, Odell starred collegiately at Caldwell College where he was a four-year member of the men's soccer team and earned All-Conference honors as a midfielder. He twice earned selections to the CACC All-Tournament Team. Before his collegiate career, Odell played in Portsmouth Football Club's FA-accredited Academy from age 11 to 18. During that time, he competed against top academies across the U.K., including Arsenal and Chelsea, and played alongside future England internationals such as Raheem Sterling and Luke Shaw.
Odell holds a USSF C License and an Advanced National Diploma from United Soccer Coaches. He earned his bachelor's degree in sport management from Caldwell University and later completed his MBA at Shepherd University.
