Introduction to Chris Beard
Chris Beard is a basketball coach who currently serves as the head coach of the men’s basketball team at the University of Texas. He is widely recognized as one of the top college basketball coaches in the country, having won the 2020 Big 12 Coach of the Year award and the 2021 Big 12 Championship. Beard is also known for his success at the lower levels of college basketball, having led programs such as Angelo State, McMurry, and Little Rock to multiple conference championships. He is also the first coach to win an outright Big 12 Championship in his first season at a school.
Early Coaching Career
Chris Beard began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Texas Tech from 1991-1993. During this time, he worked closely with then-head coach Bob Knight and the Red Raiders, helping them to a pair of Southwest Conference Tournament appearances. After his time at Texas Tech, Beard moved on to other assistant coaching jobs at Abilene Christian, Incarnate Word, and North Texas.
Coaching at Little Rock
In 2011, Chris Beard was named the head coach of the Little Rock Trojans basketball program. During his tenure, the Trojans had an impressive run of success, winning two Sun Belt Tournament titles and making three NCAA Tournament appearances. Beard was named the Sun Belt Coach of the Year in both 2015 and 2016 and was also the recipient of the National Association of Basketball Coaches District Coach of the Year award in 2016.
McMurry and Angelo State
After his successful stint at Little Rock, Chris Beard returned to the Lone Star State to become the head coach of McMurry University in Abilene. In his two seasons at McMurry, Beard led the War Hawks to back-to-back NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 run in his second season.
Beard then made the jump to Division II basketball when he accepted the head coaching job at Angelo State in San Angelo. During his four-year tenure at ASU, Beard guided the Rams to four consecutive Lone Star Conference tournament championships and four NCAA Division II tournament appearances.
Return to Texas Tech
In 2016, Chris Beard returned to Texas Tech to become the head coach of the Red Raiders. During his four-year tenure, Beard led the Red Raiders to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Final Four run in 2019. He was also named the Big 12 Coach of the Year in 2018 and 2020 and was the recipient of the Naismith National Coach of the Year award in 2019.
Texas Longhorns
In April of 2021, Chris Beard left Texas Tech for a new challenge at the University of Texas. He was named the head coach of the Longhorns, replacing former coach Shaka Smart. Beard is the first coach to win an outright Big 12 Championship in his first season at a school and has already made a splash in Austin with his hiring.
Coaching Philosophy
Chris Beard is known for his aggressive defensive style of play and his ability to develop young talent. He emphasizes a strong transition game and is known for his ability to make adjustments during a game. He is also a strong recruiter and has been able to bring in some of the best players in the country to his teams.
Recruiting at Texas
Chris Beard has wasted no time in building a strong recruiting class at Texas. He has already secured commitments from five-star prospects Greg Brown and Jalen Wilson, as well as four-star prospects Kai Jones and Will Baker. He has also been able to land several top-tier transfer players, including former Duke forward Matthew Hurt, former St. John’s guard Prentiss Hubb, and former North Carolina guard Andrew Platek.
Looking Ahead
With the hiring of Chris Beard, the Longhorns are looking to return to the top of the Big 12 and become a national contender. He has already made a strong impression in Austin and has the Longhorns poised to make a run in the 2021-22 season.
Conclusion
Chris Beard has had a long and successful coaching career, starting at Texas Tech in 1991 and working his way up through the college basketball ranks. He has won multiple conference championships and made multiple NCAA Tournament appearances at different levels of college basketball. He is now the head coach of the Texas Longhorns and is looking to take the program to new heights.
Notable Highlights
- 1991-1993: Graduate assistant at Texas Tech
- 2011: Head coach of Little Rock Trojans
- 2013-2015: Head coach of McMurry War Hawks
- 2015-2019: Head coach of Angelo State Rams
- 2016-2021: Head coach of Texas Tech Red Raiders
- 2021-Present: Head coach of Texas Longhorns
- 2020 Big 12 Coach of the Year
- 2021 Big 12 Championship
- First coach to win an outright Big 12 Championship in his first season at a school