The Plainsman Press - South Plains College

Monica Rose, sports editor

When someone is asked about a dream job, most people respond with an answer of an actress, a sports star, or even a musician.

This is not the case for Dee Dee Odorizzi.

“If you asked me what my dream job is, I would tell you that I was doing it,” said Odorizzi, assistant professor of physical education at South Plains College.

Odorizzi was born in Amarillo and raised in Lubbock. She graduated from Lubbock High School in 1986. Odorizzi was a member of the swimming team all four years. During her senior year, she assisted in the team’s winning of a district championship despite having only four girls on the team.

After graduating from high school, Odorizzi attended Texas Tech University. Throughout her years at Tech, she worked regularly at the Texas Tech Recreational Center. She was also a member of the Body Building/Power Lifting Club. In 1989, Odorizzi won the Body Building Championship at Texas Tech.

Odorizzi graduated from Texas Tech in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. She continued working at the Texas Tech Recreational Center until she got a job as the director of the Lubbock YWCA. She continued working on a master’s degree in sports administration.

Odorizzi worked for the Life Style Center at Covenant Hospital for six years before starting her career at SPC. Odorizzi has worked at SPC for the last nine and a half years. She first started out as the aquatics instructor at the SPC Natatorium, putting her swimming experience to good use. As her years at SPC flew by, she heard rumors that a bigger and more efficient Fitness Complex was to be built on campus. Odorizzi jumped at the opportunity to become its director.

As Odorizzi was hired as the director of the Physical Education Complex and assistant professor of physical education, she found herself with new challenges.

“I never expected to teach,” she said “But surprisingly, I really love it.”

Odorizzi teaches Yoga, Fitness and Wellness, and Diet and Exercise courses. She got so into teaching that she also teaches a spinning class not only to students but also to the community of Levelland. She teaches the class on Mondays and Wednesdays at 4:45 p.m.

As much as Odorizzi enjoys training her students and educating them about their bodies, she is also a loving wife to Steve Odorizzi. Odorizzi and her husband are currently loving parents to their three dogs, Maggie, Buddy and Louie. They are also building their first home in Lubbock and are extremely excited about it.

Odorizzi spends as much of her free time as possible with her niece and nephew. She also spends time gardening and participating in triathlons.

Odorizzi was selected as the Best Personal Trainer in 2005’s Best of Lubbock in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. She said she plans to continue working at SPC until she retires, or for as long as they will keep her.