For over four decades, Odell Haggins Jr.’s presence at Florida State University has been defined by impact, first as a force on the defensive line, then as a pillar of mentorship on the sidelines.
The FSU College of Criminology and Criminal Justice brought that storied journey full circle, inducting the alumnus and associate head coach into its hall of fame. The ceremony, held on Oct. 1 at the Beth Moor Lounge, brought together university leaders, faculty, alumni, former teammates and friends to celebrate Haggins’ lasting impact at Florida State both on and off the field.
Addressing the crowd gathered for the induction, FSU President Richard McCullough highlighted how Haggins embodies the core values of the college.
“The College of Criminology and Criminal Justice prepares students for careers around service, justice and stronger communities,” McCullough said. “And at the heart of that work are the values that you, Coach Haggins, have demonstrated throughout your entire career: integrity, character and mentorship. So it’s very fitting that you are being welcomed into its hall of fame.”
Haggins arrived in Tallahassee in 1985, starring at nose guard during the front end of FSU’s dynasty years. From 1986 to 1989, he anchored a defense that went 39-8-1 with four bowl wins, earning consensus All-America honors as a senior. Following a three-year NFL career, he returned to Florida State, completed his degree and joined Bobby Bowden’s staff after the Seminoles’ 1993 national championship season, the program’s first of three national titles.
Across 31 seasons as a position coach, the longest tenure at one institution in college football, he helped lead FSU to a 279-113-1 record, 14 ACC titles and two national championships while developing 23 NFL draft picks, including four first-rounders. Haggins also posted a 4-2 record as two-time interim head coach, twice securing bowl eligibility during program transitions. An inductee of the FSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018 and Polk County Sports Hall of Fame in 2022, Haggins has spent more than three decades serving as a mentor to hundreds of student-athletes, guiding them both in competition and in life.
“I have always said that Odell passionately tried to help his football boys excel in football, but his real goal was to help them develop into successful husbands, fathers and happy, productive citizens,” said Ann Whitehead, Haggins’ fifth-grade teacher.
The College of Criminology and Criminal Justice Hall of Fame induction featured remarks from several influential figures in Haggins’ life, including Assistant Professor Billy Close, longtime administrative assistant to Bobby Bowden Sue Hall and Whitehead.
University leaders, former coaches and friends including his wife, Robin, Florida State Sen. Corey Simon and former FSU star Peter Boulware, gathered to watch Haggins receive the college’s top honor.
Joining the tributes from afar, his daughter Amelia Grace, a student-athlete playing volleyball at Tulane University, shared a heartfelt video message.
“Growing up in Tallahassee, people are always asking me what it is like having Odell Haggins as my dad,” said Amelia Haggins. “To them, and to all of you today, here is what I have to say: It is truly the best in the world — not because I went to football games or met the star players, but because I get to call the most selfless, loving and hardworking person in the entire world my dad.”
To ensure Haggins’ devotion to student development endures for generations, the college launched the Odell Haggins, Jr. Scholarship in Criminology and Criminal Justice. The endowed fund will offer financial assistance to criminology students in need, keeping his passion for giving back alive on campus.
“The college, in an effort to recognize Odell, created the Odell Haggins, Jr. Scholarship in Criminology and Criminal Justice,” said Thomas Blomberg, dean of the FSU College of Criminology and Criminal Justice. “This scholarship is truly a way to institutionalize a person who has made such a difference to Florida State University, our community and the lives of so many people.”
The Haggins family will work with the college to define the criteria and guidelines for how the scholarship is awarded, ensuring the funding reaches students who need it most while honoring Odell’s lifelong passion for lifting up others.
For more information on the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice or to learn more about the Odell Haggins, Jr. Scholarship in Criminology and Criminal Justice, visit criminology.fsu.edu.
