O’Dell returns home to lead Orrick football
The next chapter of Orrick High School football will be written by someone who once carried the water bottles and wore the jersey under the Friday night lights.Matthew O’Dell, a 2009 graduate of Orrick and two-time state champion, has been named the new head football coach, returning to lead the program that shaped his youth. For O’Dell, it’s more than just a coaching job – it’s a calling rooted in community, family and the love of the game.“I grew up in Orrick, where my mom was a history teacher and cheer coach at Orrick High School,” said O’Dell. “I was your typical teacher’s kid growing up in a small school where everyone knew me as Mrs. O’Dell’s son.”Long before he was calling plays, O’Dell was riding the team bus as a waterboy and dreaming of being part of the program that would eventually define his high school years. As a threeyear starter under legendary coach Pat Richard, he helped lead the B...