Travis Odom Named Head Coach of the Laurinburg Highland Hooligans

LAURINBURG, N.C. — The Laurinburg Highland Hooligans today announced Travis Odom as the team's new head coach. Odom, a Gastonia, N.C., native, brings more than a decade of coaching experience across high school, junior college, NAIA and summer collegiate baseball.

Odom currently leads the Berkmar High School baseball program. He arrives in Laurinburg with a track record of record-setting offenses, All-American players and professional signees at nearly every stop.

A Proven Builder of Offenses and Programs

Before Berkmar, Odom spent two years as recruiting coordinator and hitting coach at Kentucky Christian University. His offenses set multiple school records and ranked among the NAIA's top 25. He also landed a top-50 NAIA recruiting class and helped produce seven All-Americans and one professional player.

At Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa, Odom served as recruiting coordinator and coached hitters, infielders, outfielders and catchers. He also ran the strength and conditioning program. The team improved in 14 offensive categories and produced a JUCO All-American and five All-Region players.

Odom's first head coaching job came at Overhills High School in Spring Lake, N.C., for the 2021–22 season. He led the program to its first 4A state playoff appearance in school history. The team set more than 35 school and state records, produced five All-Conference selections, and Odom was runner-up for Coach of the Year.

From January 2020 to August 2021, Odom was head JV coach and varsity assistant at South Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte. The team won back-to-back conference championships and led the state in multiple offensive categories. He developed three All-Conference players and one professional signee.

Odom's early college stops included Voorhees College in Denmark, S.C., where four players signed professional contracts. At Paul D. Camp Community College in Franklin, Va., he helped send 12 players on to four-year schools. He also interned with the University of South Carolina softball staff as a special assistant to the hitting coach. He began coaching at his alma mater, St. Paul's High School, helping the team reach the third round of the state playoffs.

Summer Collegiate and Showcase Experience

Odom is no stranger to summer baseball. He was hitting coach and recruiting coordinator for the West Virginia Miners of the Prospect League. That roster featured an NJCAA D1 Gold Glove winner and stolen base leader, an NJCAA D1 Second Team All-American, and six players who signed professional contracts.

In 2023, he coached hitters and catchers for the Pineville Porcupines of the Old North State League, helping win the league championship. He led the Bandits of the Puerto Rico Collegiate League to a playoff berth in their inaugural 2019 season. In 2018, he was hitting coach for the Berkley Bandits of the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate League, which finished as tournament runners-up.

Odom has also worked the showcase circuit with the Virginia Breeze and Five Star Carolina, and as a scout for Prep Baseball Report Virginia/DC.

Playing Career and Education

Odom graduated in 2014 from St. Paul's High School in North Carolina, where he was a four-year varsity starter. He played middle infield at Chowan University and Methodist University.

He earned a bachelor's degree in Human Performance and Recreation from Claflin University in 2019. In 2020, he completed a master's degree from the United States Sports Academy, with a dual major in Sports Management and Sport Coaching and a minor in NCAA Compliance.

Quotes

"I am extremely excited to be coming back closer to my hometown to help build the Highland Hooligans into one of the premier ONSL teams, as well as getting back into the college summer scene to help players continue their development for their respective schools." said Odom.