John O’Dell, a former All-American and all-academic performer for the Boxers, enters his fifth season as a member of Severin Walsh’s Pacific wrestling coaching staff for the 2015-2016 season.
With over 20 years of coaching experience, O’Dell returned to Pacific after eight seasons (2002-10) as head wrestling coach at West Salem High School and seven seasons as head wrestling coach at Estacada High School. In his prep coaching career, O’Dell guided seven wrestlers to Oregon state championships and saw over 50 of his charges place at the state tournament.
In 2002, O’Dell was recognized by his peers as the Oregon High School Wrestling Coach of the Year.
A four-year varsity wrestler, O’Dell wrestled for two seasons at junior college power North Idaho College in Coeur D’Alene before matriculating to Pacific. Wrestling under Larry Nugent, O’Dell was a NAIA All-American at 167 pounds after placing fourth at the 1994 NAIA National Championship. He also earned NAIA All-American Scholar-Athlete honors and was selected as co-recipient of the 1994 Pacific Male Outstanding Senior Athlete award.
O’Dell earned his associate’s degree from North Idaho in 1992 and his bachelor’s degree in history and social sciences from Pacific 1994. O’Dell added a master’s in education from George Fox University in 2004.
O’Dell resides in Salem, Ore., with his wife, Kristin and their three children, Dominic, Rebecca and Andrew. He teaches government and psychology at West Salem High School.
