Bio

In the fall of 1993, Dolores came to Southwestern College where she participated as a three-sport athlete in basketball, volleyball and softball. In basketball, she played for Southwestern College Hall of Fame Head Coach Valerie Goodwin-Colbert. An outstanding player, Dolores was a starter and selected to the All-Pacific Coast Conference team both years. Recognized by the selection committee for her talent and work ethic, she was named to the All-Tournament Team in both the Orange Coast and Saddleback Tournaments as well as nominated to the Second All-State Basketball Team.  A most prolific scorer, she twice scored over 30 points in a game, amassing a total of 601 points in her two-year career. As a sophomore team leader, she helped beat Mesa College for the 1995 Pacific Coast Conference Championship by recording a double double, 19 points and 19 rebounds.

In volleyball, Dolores played for Southwestern College Hall of Fame Coach Karen Day Cravens. As a freshman on the volleyball team, she received the Most Improved Award by significantly improving her hitting and blocking skills as a middle blocker and by working tirelessly with endless enthusiasm. In her second year on the team, she was the team leader in blocks, recording 44 for the season, and was selected to the All-Pacific Coast Conference Second Team.

After leaving Southwestern College, she continued to be involved in basketball, playing on a semi-pro team in Nogales, Mexico and coaching the Frances Parker girls’ JV basketball team.  Dolores continued to strive to do her best as a single parent, working 15 years as an administrative assistant. In 2010, she decided to move back to her reservation—the Santa Rosa Band of the Cahuilla Indians located in Riverside County, between Palm Springs and Anza. Ever since, she has been involved in various tribal committees—Inter-tribal Sports Board, Housing Committee, Holiday Committee and the AMIHA Board as an alternate for her tribe. 

Dolores’ best memory while participating in basketball was when the Lady Jaguars beat Mesa College for the Pacific Coast Conference title. Mesa was favored to win but Southwestern won. As Dolores remembers, “We just went out there and played with our hearts and proved that we deserved to be Champions. We beat them 84 to 58.”

Congratulations Dolores Odom for your unparalleled achievements as a student-athlete. It is a distinct honor to induct you into the Southwestern College Athletic Hall of Fame, Class of 2017.