INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 20, 2017) – It was announced today that Maui Jim Maui Invitational Tournament Chairman Dave Odom was appointed to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) Committee, a four-year term beginning with the 2017-18 season.
The NIT, operated by the NCAA, annually invites 32 teams to participate in the postseason event. The eight-person NIT Committee is responsible for the selection, seeding and bracketing of the tournament. The committee features a mix of current athletic administrators who are actively working at NCAA institutions or conferences, and former collegiate head men's basketball coaches.
Having served as head coach at East Carolina, Wake Forest and South Carolina, Odom guided his teams to 15 postseason appearances in 22 seasons, including nine NCAA Tournament appearances and three NIT Championships.
"The NIT has a great and proud tradition, so it is a tremendous honor to serve on the committee," Odom said. "As a longtime head coach, I know how hard every team in the country works each year and understand the significance of what it means to play in the postseason. To be part of this committee is an incredible responsibility and one that I am greatly looking forward to."
Odom has served as chairman of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational since 2009. In his role, Odom helps bring the nation's most talented teams, coaches and players to Maui for the nation's premier early season Tournament.
Odom has won several awards during his time as a coach, including the National Coach of the Year (1995); ACC Coach of the Year (1991, 1994, 1995); SEC Coach of the Year (2004); and District Coach of the Year (1991, 1993, 1994).
He is a member of numerous Halls of Fame, including at each of his alma maters – Goldsboro High School (1991) and Guilford College (1983) – along with the Wake Forest (2009), North Carolina High School (2015) and North Carolina Sports (2009) Halls of Fame. He was also honored with the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. Last year, he was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference Basketball Legends Class of 2016.
