Few coaches have progressed as quickly as Chris Beard in recent years.
After leading Small stonea 12th seed, failed in round one Purdue5th seed, at the 2016 NCAA tournament, he became one of the most coveted coaches in the country. He left a few months later to Texas Technologywhere he spent five seasons and led the team to the national championship in 2019. His promotion continued into 2021, when Texas – his alma mater and “dream school” – hired him as its head coach.
The Longhorns picked Beard in the hope that he could host the second weekend of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2008. Beard guided the Longhorns to the second round of the NCAA tournament in his first season. he took charge and landed some of the top rookies and transfers in the country during his first two seasons.
However, last month, Beard’s career came to a halt when he arrested for felony domestic violencemake Texas must suspend him without paying. Rodney Terry, his assistant and former head coach at UTEP and Fresno State, became acting head coach.
Thursday, Texas announced that it fired Beard, ending his run in Austin because the charges against him are still under investigation, according to the Travis County district attorney’s office.
Here are the key moments throughout Beard’s career in Texas, up until Thursday’s news of his termination.
April 1, 2021: Chris Beard Appointed Texas Head Coach
Beard, Texas Tech’s head coach since 2016, has a reported $4 million acquisition to transform Big 12 schools and replaced Shaka Smart at his alma mater.
Beard led the Red Raiders to appear in the national title game in 2019 and Elite Eight in 2018 and left there with an overall record of 112-55.
March 18, 2022: Texas Fails Virginia Technology in the first round of the 2022 NCAA men’s tournament
The win 81-73 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, marking the Longhorns’ first win in the post-season league since 2014.
November 28, 2022: Texas rises to #2 in the AP poll, the show’s highest ranking since 2009-10
Texas opens the 2022-23 season in 12th place in the pre-season. After 6 consecutive wins, including a 93-74 victory over player No. 2 Gonzaga on November 16; they rose to 4th and 2nd the following week.
December 12, 2022: Chris Beard is arrested
The Texas Coach is arrested by the police in Austin, Texas, and booked at 4:18 a.m. CDT on a third-degree charge of “domestic assault/family member, obstruction of breathing” or strangulation. The charge is a third-degree felony in Texas, with possible penalties of two to 10 years in prison.
Austin police told ESPN they received a “disruptive” call and officers were dispatched shortly after midnight Monday. Beard was released from the Travis County jail at 2:44 p.m. CDT on bond.
Beard was allowed to communicate with the alleged victim in a non-threatening manner, had to be 200 yards from the residence where police were called and was told he could not possess a firearm.
Texas released a statement saying, “The University is aware of the situation involving Chris Beard. We are continuing to gather information and monitor the legal process.”
December 12, 2022: Texas suspends Beard indefinitely without pay
Deputy head coach Rodney Terry, who served as head coach at UTEP (2018-21) and Fresno State (2011-18), was appointed acting head coach. provided school no timeline for Beard .’s suspension.
“The university takes the issue of interpersonal violence seriously involving members of its community,” the university said in its statement.
December 12, 2022: Texas plays its first game without a Beard
The same day their head coach was arrested for domestic violence, the Texas players withdrew their lawsuit. overtime victory against visiting Rice87-81.
December 23, 2022: The fiancee dispute incident
Randi Trew, the woman who called the police to report the assault, release a statement through her attorney said she was “deeply saddened” by the incident and that Beard was acting in self-defence against her.
“Chris and I are deeply saddened that we have brought negative attention to family, friends and the University of Texas, among others. As Chris’ fiancée and biggest supporter, I apologize. sorry for my role in this unfortunate incident. I realize that my frustration, in breaking his glass, started a struggle between Chris and me,” Trew said in the statement.
“Chris didn’t choke me, and I told law enforcement that night. Chris has said he acted in self-defence, and I don’t deny that. I don’t believe Chris tried. intended to harm me in any way. I never had any intention of arresting or prosecuting him. We appreciate everyone’s support and prayers during this difficult time,” she said.
In a statement, the university said: “We are reviewing the statement from Randi Trew. This matter is the subject of an internal investigation and the university does not comment on pending investigations. handle.”
December 27, 2022: Austin police provide “no comment” update
Three days after Randi Trew released a statement denying Beard strangled her and saying Austin police had not recorded her account of what happened that night, officials said they would not pay word. “The Department respects the investigative process and the court and will not be making any further comment at this time.”
January 4, 2023: The District Attorney’s Office shares statement
The Travis County District Attorney’s Office provided an update on the ongoing investigation, saying: “The matter is still under review and our prosecutors are evaluating all evidence, including recent statements and all evidence gathered by law enforcement.
Our office takes all allegations of domestic violence seriously; In each case, we are committed to addressing the unique challenges presented.”
January 5, 2023: Texas fires Beard
“The University of Texas has parted ways with Chris Beard,” Longhorns athletic director Chris Del Conte said in a statement released Thursday afternoon announcing the decision.
“This is a difficult situation that we have worked to resolve. I informed Mr. Beard today of our decision to fire him with immediate effect.”
The university’s vice president of legal affairs, Jim Davis, wrote in a letter to Beard’s attorney, Perry Minton, that Beard engaged in “unacceptable conduct that he did not like. fit to be the head coach at our university.” Davis writes: “Whether prosecutors continue with the case does not determine whether Beard engaged in school inappropriate behavior.
Minton said in a statement that Beard was “crushed” by the news and claimed that the university proceeded with the layoffs without asking Beard or Trew any questions.
Chris Beard’s attorney, Perry Minton, asked James E. Davis, UT’s vice president of legal affairs, “What did Coach Beard do to get his contract terminated?”
Davis responded that Beard had engaged in “unacceptable behavior that made him unfit to be head coach.” pic.twitter.com/26dCwqRzCm
– Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) January 5, 2023
“I am concerned that the University of Texas has made a bad decision against the interests of the University, based on editorials and Twitter feeds – not facts regarding a real man. innocence,” Minton said. “The university violated their agreement with the coach and we are devastated.”
Minton sent a letter early Thursday urging the university to keep Beard on the job; The school responded by saying the letter showed “a lack of self-discipline.”
“Your letter this morning reveals that Mr Beard did not understand the significance of the conduct he knew he had engaged in, or the subsequent events that undermined his ability to lead the program. us effectively,” Davis wrote.
Beard has five years left on a guaranteed seven-year contract that includes a clause that he could be fired if he is found guilty of a felony.
According to the school, assistant coach Rodney Terry took over at Beard last month and will be interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
