Head Coach

Email: codio@mail.barry.edu

Phone: 305-899-3557

Contact Coach

Cesar Odio has won more games than any other head coach in Barry men’s basketball history, compiling a 269-217 record in 17 seasons. Since taking over the program in 1994-95, Odio has recorded 11 winning seasons in 17 years, winning at least 17 games eight times and has been named SSC Coach-of-the-Year twice in 1994-95 and 2006-07.

 Odio has coached 21 All-Sunshine State Conference players including Erick Nsangou and Tony Dennison in 2009-10 and most recently Willie Whitfield last season. He has also had eight members on the SSC All-Freshmen Team and one All-American, Nick Ellingsworth-Perez, who was also named SSC Player-of-the-Year in 2004-05.

 Under Odio’s direction, the Bucs have been one of the best defensive teams in the country. They have ranked in the Top-10 in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense numerous times. In 2002-03, they led the country in scoring defense at a paltry 53.2 points per game. They also finished fifth in the nation in field goal percentage defense at 38.4 percent.

 Last season, the Bucs posted a 9-18 overall record. The Bucs earned a spot in the SSC Tournament but dropped their first round game to eventual SSC Champion Rollins.

In 2009-10, the Bucs posted their third 20-win season under Odio, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in six seasons. The Bucs played for the SSC Tournament title for the fourth time in school history and knocked off Florida Southern in the NCAA Division II South Regional for their first-ever win in the big dance. Erick Nsangou and Tony Dennison each earned second-team All-SSC, while Dennison went on to a spot on the All-Region second team.

In 2006-07, the Bucs were led by a dynamic senior class headed by court general Ryan Saunders. The team finished with a 23-7 overall record matching the most wins in school history set in 2004-05. The team also set a school record 76.2 winning percentage and cracked the Top-25 poll. Barry also finished with their best SSC record at 13-3, claiming a share of the conference title for the first time in school history, and advanced to the NCAA Division II tournament for the second time in three years.

The 2005-06 season proved to be one of the more improbable seasons in school history. The Bucs were 9-3 after the first 12 games, but lost leading scorer Melvin Triche to an Achilles injury and dropped seven in a row. They regrouped to win six of their last 11, making the SSC Tournament as the seventh seed.

Heading into the conference tournament with only seven players, the Bucs were facing early elimination when they trailed Nova Southeastern by 18 points with 16 minutes left. Digging deep, they refused to lie down and mounted one of the biggest comebacks in tournament history for a 67-62 win. They carried the momentum to a 57-49 win in the semifinals over arch-rival Lynn. In the finals, they carried top-seeded Rollins into overtime before the Tars escaped with a one-point win.

In 2004-05, Odio led the squad to a school-record 23 wins and the team’s first-ever appearance at the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Bucs claimed the prestigious Disney Tip-Off Classic title to open the season, and senior Clifford Smith was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. Senior Nick Ellingsworth-Perez posted perhaps the best performance in school history, earning Sunshine State Conference Player-of-the-Year honors. Smith and Calix N’Diaye earned Honorable Mention in the SSC that year as well.

In 2000-01, the Bucs went 18-11 and ranked sixth in the nation in field goal percentage defense. The Bucs, ranked 23rd in NCAA Division II, upset top-20 Tampa in the first round of the SSC tournament and reached the finals with an upset of Eckerd in the semifinals. It was the Bucs’ first trip to the finals since 1991-92. Seniors Jason Junker and Travon Broadway both made the All-Tournament team. Junker and Broadway also earned All-SSC and All-Region honors, while Peter Riggs was named Barry Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the second time in three years.

In 1996-97, Odio guided the Bucs to a 17-10 record overall and 9-5 SSC mark, placing fourth. In 1995-96, he led the Bucs to an 18-10 record and a second-place tie (8-6) in the SSC. In 1994-95, his first season at Barry, Odio was named the SSC’s Coach of the Year, posting a 16-11 record overall and a 6-8 mark in the conference.

Prior to coming to Barry, Odio was head men’s basketball coach at Miami-Dade Community College, Kendall for seven years. The winningest coach in MDCC-Kendall history, he earned an overall record of 128-84 (.604) with the Jaguars. Odio posted two 20-win seasons. The 1988-89 team tallied a school-best 26-9 overall record and advanced to the NJCAA Regional VIII championship game.

Twice during his tenure at MDCC, Odio guided the Jaguars to the Southern Conference Tournament Championship (1988 and 1989) and a berth in the NJCAA Region VIII tournament. Odio was also selected to coach the South squad in the annual Region VIII All-Star game on three occasions.

Odio has experienced success at every level of college basketball as both a player and a coach. A native of Havana, Cuba, he attended Christopher Columbus High in Miami and graduated in 1977. As a senior at Columbus, he led Dade County in scoring and was named First-Team All-Dade County. He then attended Florida Southern College where he was a four-year letterman, helping the Mocs compile a 83-39 overall record and three SSC titles. Odio was team captain in 1980-81 when FSC won the NCAA Division II national title, defeating Mount St. Mary’s 73-68 in the championship game.

Upon receiving his bachelor’s degree with a major in physical education from FSC in 1981, Odio began his coaching career at Lakeland’s Sante Fe High School where he also taught physical education. The following year he returned to Florida Southern as an assistant coach and admissions counselor. Odio served as an assistant coach with the Mocs for two seasons. During that time, FSC compiled a 36-23 overall record, a conference title in 1982-83, and a third-place finish in the NCAA South Regional.

Prior to arriving at MDCC in 1987, Odio was an assistant coach under Bill Foster at the University of Miami from 1984 to 1987. At Miami, Odio was hired to work with the newly revived program as an assistant coach, academic counselor, and camp coordinator.

Odio earned a master’s degree in physical education from Nova Southeastern University in 1990. In addition to his duties on the hardwood at Barry, he teaches in the University’s School of Human Performance & Leisure Sciences. 

Odio and his wife, Mary Kay, live in Kendall with their two children, Emily and Eddie. His son Eddie plays collegiately at Division I Boston College.