NORFOLK, Va. — One thing you already see with new ODU men's basketball coach Mike Jones is that he plans things out whenever possible. When it came to picking his coaching staff, one took him back to his past.
Jones convinced former running mate Odell Hodge to leave his life of 20 plus years in Belgium where he played and coach to come back home stateside to be a special assistant at Old Dominion. The two go back to their days as players at ODU where Hodge was a 2-time CAA Player of the Year.
Back in 2012 in Belgium, Jones visited the country for a clinic where the two had the funniest of reunions.
"Literally somebody just grabs me and he's holding on tight and I'm trying to turn my head", Jones smiled. "Finally he let loose and this is my guy here".
Hodge admits it was an offer he couldn't turn down.
"I'm blessed to have this opportunity, honored. I'm thankful for Coach Jones bringing me back", he said. "We joked. We laughed about it. I said to my wife. He's the only one and this university that would have got me to leave."
The two 50 year olds and former college roommates now embark on bringing back a Monarchs program that's struggled over the past few years in today's new college basketball landscape. They're looking to turn things in the right direction.
"We know what it's like to put that jersey on. We know what it's like to play in front of this fan base", says Jones. "We're doing everything to bring that back."
Hodge believes in his friend. "He's a leader. He was a leader on the basketball court as a player and thorughout his coaching career. At DeMatha (Catholic High School), at Virginia Tech, Maryland and now in his first year."
Both want to restore the program that they help rise up in the 1990's during their time in the CAA, and Jones is happy that he and Hodge are back together to try and do it.
"To be able to do this with my brother is special", he says. "We didn't know this in the mid-90's that this was going to happen. We took care of each other then and to be able to do this now."