Dudley played them for the State Title, Northern Guilford played them for the State Title, and many of our local high school football fans remember the name of Jim Oddo and his Charlotte Catholic Cougars…
We hear today, that coach Oddo is gone at age 85…The old coach of the Cougars has passed away…A sad day for sure, in the high school football circles, here in North Carolina….When I would see and hear his name, I would always think of the old center for the Oakland Raiders, Jim Otto….
Coach Oddo gone, but surely not to ever be forgotten…..Coach Oddo coached Marty Hurney’s son, Hurney, the former GM of the Carolina Panthers…Frank Garcia, a former Carolina Panthers’ offensive lineman, coached for Coach Oddo at Charlotte Catholic….And there are many more of these football connections all over, and around the Charlotte area….
RIP:Coach Jim Oddo….
With heavy hearts and fond memories we are sad to share that legendary Cougar Football Coach Jim Oddo passed away overnight. He was 85. https://t.co/RNwdVRJX5q ?
— Charlotte Catholic (@CCHSCougarNews) March 31, 2021
'We lost a legend.'
Longtime Charlotte Catholic high school football coach Jim Oddo died this morning.
Our story so farhttps://t.co/RTuCImXwJE
— Langston Wertz Jr. (@langstonwertzjr) March 31, 2021
This man devoted his life to making young men better. He instilled discipline structure love and passion in their souls. He won 358 games as a coach. He impacted 1,000’s of lives. Rest In Peace coach. Heaven got a warrior today. #fireout #legend pic.twitter.com/2enj1tjpNI
— Frank Garcia (@frankgarcia65) March 31, 2021
He was playing at State when my dad was sent there teach and my dad volunteered to work with the football program, later in 1960 to retire from the air force and work with the NC State coaching and recruiting. I remember Jim and followed his success over the years. This is a good man who helped mold the lives of many young men, and I will take off from work Tuesday and attend.
Dr. Noni McCullough Bohonak