Kevin O'Dea
Encyclopedia
Kevin O'Dea is an American football
coach, currently serving as special teams coordinator for the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League.
and defensive back
from 1984 to 1985 at Lock Haven University.
from February 14, 2006, until he was hired by the New York Jets. O'Dea was named the Jets Special Teams Coordinator on February 20, 2008 after former coordinator Mike Westhoff
stepped down after seven years due to medical reasons.
, O'Dea spent a four-year term in the Coast Guard
before enrolling at Lock Haven University. O'Dea later obtained a master's degree in education from the University of Virginia.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach, currently serving as special teams coordinator for the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League.
College career
O'Dea played wide receiverWide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
and defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
from 1984 to 1985 at Lock Haven University.
Coaching career
O'Dea was the assistant special teams coach for the Chicago BearsChicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
from February 14, 2006, until he was hired by the New York Jets. O'Dea was named the Jets Special Teams Coordinator on February 20, 2008 after former coordinator Mike Westhoff
Mike Westhoff
Mike Westhoff is a special teams coach for the New York Jets of the National Football League. Westhoff is considered a "pioneering special teams coach" and his special teams units are generally ranked very highly in the NFL.-New York Jets:...
stepped down after seven years due to medical reasons.
Personal
A native of Williamsport, PAWilliamsport, Pennsylvania
Williamsport is a city in and the county seat of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania in the United States. In 2009, the population was estimated at 29,304...
, O'Dea spent a four-year term in the Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
before enrolling at Lock Haven University. O'Dea later obtained a master's degree in education from the University of Virginia.