Less than a month after Chris Beard was charged with a third-degree felony for domestic violence, Texas fired its men’s basketball coach.
When Beard was hired off Texas Tech on April 1, 2001, he seemed a perfect fit for a program that required an injection of enthusiasm and NCAA tournament success. Now Beard’s hiring has become a major embarrassment for the Texas men’s basketball program back to square 1 and looking for a replacement.
Beard, once one of the hottest college coaching properties in the country, faces an uncertain future, both personally and professionally, after bringing technology to the 2019 NCAA Tournament Championship Game.
“This is a difficult situation that we have worked very hard to address. Del Conte said in a prepared statement.
Assistant Rodney Terry was named acting head coach for the rest of the season.
“I would like to thank Manager Rodney Terry for his exemplary leadership on and off the court when the team needed it most,” Del Conte said.
The Longhorns, ranked No. 2 nationally, are 12-2 and are ranked No. 6 in the AP Top 25. Beard was suspended indefinitely after being arrested and charged in the early hours of December 12.
But a woman called police to report a domestic violence assault by Texas basketball coach Chris Beard said last month Beard never strangled her, and she never wanted him arrested or prosecuted.
In a statement sent to the Associated Press by her attorney, Randy Triew said she was “deeply saddened” by the incident and that Beard was acting in self-defense against her.
“Chris and I are deeply saddened by the negative attention that has been directed to our family, friends, the University of Texas and others. I realized that my frustration when I broke his glasses caused a physical fight between Chris and myself,” Trieu said in a statement.
Despite the huge investment in Beard, the administration has decided that the 49-year-old coach must leave.
A response to the dismissal from Beard’s attorney said he was “shocked” that the university had come to this decision.
“We would like to understand why the university has changed course from its previously stated position, even though there has been nothing but positive developments for Beard and the university since then,” Beard’s lawyer said in a letter. has been written. “Furthermore, I am very grateful to Chris Del Conte for repeatedly reporting to our team that he is confident that Chris Beard has done nothing wrong and is innocent. I do not understand the unexplained and short-term change of heart, especially in light of the university’s adjustment and support that he is innocent.”
Beard has a 237-98 coaching career at McMurry, Angelo State, Little Rock, Tech and Texas. He was 29-13 with the Longhorns. In his first season of 2021-22, Texas won his NCAA Tournament game for the first time since his 2015.
Beard marked the program the same way he did at Tech. Tech pushed the program further than ever before closing the university.
He implemented a folkloric video, “Fireside Chats,” which generated enthusiasm from fans, especially UT students. He has increased recruitment, both in high schools and especially on transfer portals. Beard’s relationship with the school dates back to the 1990s when Tom Penders was student manager.
“He loves being a Longhorn,” Terry said the night after his arrest. I’m trying to bring this program back to the level it was years ago.
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