Ron O’Dell joined head coach Tony Sanchez in coming to UNLV from national powerhouse high school program Bishop Gorman. He is in his fifth season coaching the Rebels’ quarterbacks after having served in that same role for the top-ranked Gaels since 2009. He most recently has mentored returning starter Armani Rogers, who was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Year in 2017.
O’Dell’s top pupils at Bishop Gorman included Anu Solomon, who passed for 3,458 yards as a freshman at Arizona in 2014, and Randall Cunningham II, who earned a track scholarship at USC.
In 2014, O’Dell coached Gatorade Nevada Player of the Year Tate Martell, who led Bishop Gorman to an undefeated record and No. 1 national ranking.
O’Dell was also the position coach of Aaron Rodgers while both were at Pleasant Valley High School in Chico, Calif.
The California native prepped at Alhambra High School in Martinez, Calif., and led the Bulldogs to back-to-back undefeated seasons as the team’s quarterback in 1990-91, finishing his prep career with an undefeated record. O’Dell went on to play two years at Los Medanos Junior College in Pittsburg, Calif. earning time at quarterback and wide receiver for the Mustangs
O’Dell earned his bachelor’s degree from Chico State in 2001 and went on to serve as a graduate assistant coach at University of Redlands and then Illinois.
The cousin of former UNLV quarterback and NFL assistant coach Scott Turner, O’Dell has two sons: Jordan and Landon.
Coaching Experience:
2015-SA UNLV -- quarterbacks
2009-14 Bishop Gorman High School -- quarterbacks
2003-05 Illinois -- graduate assistant
2002 Redlands -- graduate assistant
1999-2001 Pleasant Valley (Calif.) High School -- asst. coach
