Gerald K. O’Dell is in his 21st year as a management consultant for intercollegiate athletics, with primary focus on feasibility studies, strategic and business planning, along with athletics program reviews for institutions. O’Dell serves as the primary Project Coordinator for CarrSports’ Management Consulting services. His passionate, collaborative, and solutions-driven approach has benefited the leadership of over 60 NCAA and NAIA institutions.

As the Athletic Director at Northern Illinois University, he and his administrative team, in conjunction with the sport coaches and University leadership, designed and implemented an Athletics strategic plan resulting in a legacy of success for NIU Athletics. Gerald’s tenure as the University of Cincinnati Athletic Director was marked by an earnest commitment to the success of all Bearcats sports, student-athlete academic achievement, and Title IX compliance. While at the Cincinnati, he also played a leading role in the organization of Conference USA, guiding the drafting of C-USA’s first strategic plan and chairing several C-USA standing committees. Additionally, O’Dell participated on NCAA certification peer review teams, as well as the NCAA Division I Strategic Planning Cabinet. Eight of Gerald’s former staff members became athletic directors at NCAA institutions.

O’Dell began his athletics administrative career as the Marketing Director at the University of Minnesota. Prior to his administrative duties, he was an assistant football coach at the University of Minnesota, Iowa State University, University of Oklahoma, and Broken Arrow High School (Broken Arrow, Oklahoma). Gerald, a native of Wichita Falls, Texas, is a graduate of Southeastern Oklahoma State University where he was a two-year captain of the football team. He holds a Master of Education from the University of Oklahoma.