COLUMBIA — Ex-South Carolina coach Dave Odom has quickly discovered a few realities about retirement.

“I’ve already found that you can’t run but so many miles in a day, and you can’t play but so many sets of tennis in a day,” Odom says. “So you’ve got to find something else.”

What that will be, Odom hasn’t settled on yet.

Odom, 65, stepped away in March after his seventh year at South Carolina and his 42nd coaching basketball. He had not returned to campus before this weekend, when he dropped by the baseball game at Sarge Frye on Saturday to see friends. On Monday night, Odom was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.

“When I first heard about it, I said, ’Why me? What have I done?”’ he said.

Odom spent 22 years as a college coach, surpassing 400 career wins this past season. His best run came at Wake Forest, where he coached megastar Tim Duncan and made eight NCAA tournament appearances in 12 seasons. While he couldn’t repeat that success with the Gamecocks, Odom’s teams did reach the 2004 NCAAs and won consecutive NIT titles the two years after that.

He announced his retirement in January, in part to end the public debate about whether he deserved to return to a faltering program that had not reached the postseason the last two years.

Odom’s spring days, once packed with reviewing player academics, arranging fall schedules and planning for summer camps, are now spent purchasing cars and insurance — things that often came as part of his basketball contracts.

“I’ve already learned more in the last six weeks than I did in my entire coaching career,” Odom says. “I don’t know what I’m doing, I really don’t. I don’t know how to buy cars, get insurance. It’s been a real, real education.”

Since the season wrapped, Odom and his wife, Lynn, have spent much of their time at their beach home along the South Carolina coast.

The biggest part of Odom’s day is the transition away from South Carolina, getting what he calls the “business part of my life in order.”

He has yet to talk with his Gamecock replacement, Darrin Horn, who was hired about two weeks after Odom’s last game.

“I’ve tried to separate myself as quickly as I could,” Odom said. “I realize I had my time and the other staff has their time, and they have to handle matters in a way they feel is best for them.”

Odom stays connected to the game through appearances for Nike. There had been speculation Odom would join his old boss and longtime friend Terry Holland, now East Carolina athletic director, as Pirates coach. Odom said he’s had job inquiries, but didn’t want to get more specific.

For now, Odom’s content to talk with friends, get in his exercise runs, play some tennis and figure out his life’s path after South Carolina.

“Sure, I miss it. I went away knowing I was going to miss it,” Odom said. “I miss the players, I miss my staff, I miss the university, I miss the fans.”

But he can’t completely get away from the Gamecocks.

Former South Carolina star Tre Kelley stopped by Odom’s house for a visit Monday. Odom also hears about what’s going on with the Gamecocks when people on the team, staff and his associates call to say hello.

“The phone lines are open,” Odom jokes.

There will be more Nike appearances and some clinics in the months ahead. Still, the energetic Odom knows it won’t be enough to hold him for long since he already feels the itch to get back in the game.

“I want to stay in basketball somehow,” he said. “That’s what I do.”

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