The University of Texas at Austin has fired Chris Beard as its head men’s basketball coach, Texas Athletics Director Chris Del Conte announced Thursday.
The University issued the following statement:
“This has been a difficult situation that we’ve been diligently working through. Today I informed Mr. Beard of our decision to terminate him effective immediately. We thank Coach Rodney Terry for his exemplary leadership both on and off the court at a time when our team needed it most. We are grateful he will remain the acting head coach for the remainder of the season. We are proud of our student-athletes, coaches and staff, who throughout this difficult time have continued to make us proud to be Longhorns.”
Beard was arrested Dec. 12 after Austin police were called after Beard allegedly assaulted his fiancé. Beard is being charged with with assault by strangulation/suffocation – family violence, a third-degree felony.
Beard was placed on indefinite suspension without pay from his coaching position “until further notice.” Associate Head Coach Rodney Terry has been the acting head coach for the Longhorns basketball team, and will continue to lead the team through the end of the 2022/2023 season.
Beard, who was hired by UT after coaching five years at Texas Tech, leaves the program with a 29-13 record over part of two seasons. He led Texas Tech to the National Championship game in 2019, losing to Virginia.
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