Missouri coach Odom signed contract with unusual provisions

New Missouri head coach Barry Odom was hired to replace Garry Pinkel in 2015, but had to accept a long list of provisions in his contract before the job was officially his, reports USA Today's Steve Berkowitz.

Last November, African American members of the team threatened to not participate in any football activities if university president Tim Wolfe didn't resign from his position. A series of race-related incidents involving students of color going ignored led to the protest. The problem persisted to the point where a portion of Missouri's black student body banded together to protest under the name "Concerned Student 1950."

Eventually word spread about the group, and 30 black football players joined the movement in an effort to remove Wolfe from his position.

The group's protest paid off, as Wolfe eventually resigned.

As part of Odom's deal, he had to sign on to a provision that ensured the proper treatment of players. This comes in the wake of Illinois firing head coach Tim Beckman prior to last season following allegations of abuse of players.

"With the cooperation and assistance of the university, the employee shall engage in (and encourage that every coach under employee’s supervision is engaging in) fair, safe, and responsible treatment of student-athletes on the football team, and avoid behavior that could in any way jeopardize a student-athlete’s health, safety, or welfare, or that could otherwise cause harm or risk causing harm to a student-athlete," the contract read.

Odom's contract also contained a provision that limits his ability to speak negatively about the program in any public forum - including during radio and television appearances - and bars him from making any statements to the media that could potentially discredit the university or anyone associated with the school.

If Odom fails to uphold these provisions, the university would have every right to terminate the contract.