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COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina coach Dave Odom plans to retire at the end of this season, several media outlets reported Thursday night.

Odom could make the announcement as early as Friday, The (Charleston) Post and Courier and The (Columbia) State reported, both citing unidentified sources.

Odom told his players about his decision Thursday night and reused to confirm or deny the reports after his radio show, the Columbia newspaper reported.

Several messages left by The Associated Press with Odom and members of South Carolina's athletic department were not returned Thursday night.

The 65-year-old Odom is in his seventh season with the Gamecocks, who made the NCAA tournament once and won two NIT championships since he took over in 2001. He has never finished better than 8-8 in the Southeastern Conference.

Odom coached Wake Forest for 12 years, making seven consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and eight overall. His record is 401-268 in 22 seasons, including three seasons at East Carolina.

South Carolina is 9-8 and coming off its first Southeastern Conference win of the year, a 70-66 victory at Arkansas on Wednesday night.

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