Odell Resigns as Bellflower Grid Coach

Clay Odell, head football coach for 21 years at Bellflower High School, has resigned.

Odell, 54, joined the Buccaneer staff as an assistant in 1961 and became head coach in 1965. He guided Bellflower to six league titles. During the 1966-67 seasons the Bucs won 16 consecutive regular season games.

In 1981, Bellflower became the first California team to play a football game east of the Mississippi River when it traveled to Ohio.

The team’s best performance in postseason play was in 1976, when it advanced to the semifinals of the Southern Section playoffs.

Bellflower was 6-4 this year, despite a turnout of just 24 players for fall practice.

Odell, who said it was “time to stop,” will remain at the school as an English instructor and golf coach.