Where are they now? Dave Odom

He's not exactly the retiring kind

Dave Odom is in California this week, but the 66-year-old former coach hasn't gone Hollywood.

"I'm not making movies,'' he quipped, speaking via cell phone.

For the first time in more than 40 years, Odom also is not directing his own basketball team. But the former coach of East Carolina, Wake Forest and South Carolina is into preseason hoops.

Several coaches invited Odom -- who stepped down at South Carolina after last season -- to observe their practices, evaluate their teams and offer input.

His agenda includes visits to Coastal Carolina, Southern California, Montana State, Virginia Tech, where son Ryan is an assistant, and schools in the Triangle.

"It's another set of eyes,'' Odom said. "It might help them improve or they might say 'we can't do that.' "

Before starting his swing around the practice circuit, Odom also worked out players at Charlotte Latin High, where his oldest son, Lane, coaches.

"That was fun,'' said Odom, who started his career as a high school coach in Goldsboro and Durham.

It was there Odom learned about adapting to personnel, to mix and match and scheme with different types of teams.

In his 12 years at Wake, he guided the Deacons to two ACC Tournament titles, an NIT championship, and eight NCAA Tournaments.

At South Carolina, where he faced another big building challenge, his teams won two NIT crowns and made the NCAA Tournament field once. After back-to-back losing seasons in 2007 and '08, he retired from coaching last spring.

While keeping his hand in basketball, Odom also has committed to a part-time position with his alma mater, Guilford College, where he was a two-sport athlete in the 1960s and in the Quakers' Sports Hall of Fame.

As consultant and assistant to the school's president, he will work with alumni and in development and professional growth with students, athletes and coaches.

"Guilford was very good to me. If I can help, I want to do it." said Odom, who lives in Emerald Isle with his wife, Lynn.

Odom said he is considering other options in addition to his duties at Guilford. But how is life without a basketball team?

"So far, I've been fine," he said.