Dave Odell, former Westmont men's basketball player and a longtime Warrior supporter, has served as the Athletic Director for Westmont since January of 2009.
Under his leadership, Westmont has won the Golden State Athletic Conference All Sports Award for eight consecutive years. Since 2011-12, the Warriors have recorded top-20 finishes in the NAIA Learfield IMG College Directors' Cup every year the standings have been kept, including a sixth place finish in 2017-18.
In 2021, Odell was named GSAC Athletic Director of the Year for the first time in his 12 year career after guiding the Westmont athletic staff through the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, amidst the pandemic, Westmont claimed five regular season GSAC Championships, won a GSAC tournament Championship, advanced all 17 program to postseason play, and participated in 12 NAIA National Championships, winning one (Women's Basketball).
"In this crazy COVID year, this a team award," insisted Odell. "Our sports information department, athletic training staff, and associate AD's deserve recognition. In particular, our assistant athletic director of operations, Trisha Beaudin, kept us on the field as she led our COVID testing plan in addition to all of the tasks in her job."
"Dave Odell is the consummate professional," noted Westmont College President Gayle Beebe. "He plans well, works incredibly effectively and achieves oustanding results. Beyond all the public records and results, Dave is also humble, generous, and a great embodiment of the best of Westmont."
Since Odell began his tenure as Athletic Director, Warrior teams have won 20 GSAC regular season championships and 16 GSAC Tournament titles. Westmont cross country and track & field have combined for an additional 13 GSAC championships.
"We’re thrilled that Dave will become even more involved with Westmont athletics," said Westmont President Dr. Gayle Beebe. "His leadership, commitment to success and dedication to the Warriors bring the qualities required to continue our winning tradition. The college will benefit greatly from his intelligence, business acumen and love for Westmont."
Odell, who previously served as an adjunct professor in the economics and business department for six years, has a long history of involvement with Westmont athletics. A men’s basketball player from 1985-1989 and a scholar-athlete, he has maintained a close connection to the Warrior program. From 2002-05, and again from 2007-2009, Odell served as the chair of the Warrior Sports Advisory Board, which provides advice for the athletics program and assists in fundraising. At the request of former Westmont President Stan Gaede, he also served as a member of the Presidential Task Force on Athletics commissioned in 2005.
Odell has developed a strong sense of the mission of the college and the athletic department.
"Westmont athletics develops tomorrow’s leaders today," Odell said. "We believe that athletic competition serves as a laboratory compelling students to learn lessons for life about teamwork, discipline, communication, self-sacrifice, perseverance, drive and endurance.
“As a nationally recognized academic leader, Westmont has demonstrated its commitment to learning through its rigorous liberal arts curriculum. At the same time, the college embraces the historic Christian faith. The integration of first-rate academics, high-level athletic competition and Christian commitment make Westmont unique among its peers. The student-athlete who can maintain the rigorous pace of Westmont’s academic curriculum and develop the personal fortitude to take and make the winning shot in a basketball game is developing the personal characteristics to lead communities of people, instigate movements for change and innovation and mentor the next generation of leaders.
"When you look at our athletic department, it has intramurals, it has summer camps, it has sports teams and it has a relationship with the kinesiology department and the larger college community," said Odell, who brings experience from a long list of successful business ventures. "My experience in business helps me see how we fit within those contexts."
Odell’s Westmont pedigree extends to his parents, Westmont alumni Bill and Gayle Odell. Bill Odell served as the Athletic Director at Azusa Pacific until the summer of 2010 and coached the men’s basketball program there from 1991-2007. His sister, Susie Maga, played volleyball for Westmont, earning All-American honors in 1990, and works as the Athletic Director for St. Margaret’s High School in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. Odell’s wife, DeAnna, another Westmont alumna, ran cross country and track during her college days.
Odell stays active by running ultramarathons, with finishes at Western States 100, Leadville 100, Cascade Crest 100 and Hurt 100, among many others.
Dave and DeAnna have three children Walker (23), Raynee (21) and Rallie (19), all of whom either are or were collegiate student-athletes themselves.
