Report: Texas Tech to Name Chris Beard as New Men’s Basketball Coach

According to ESPN’s Jeff Goodman and CBS Sports Jon Rothstein, UNLV head coach Chris Beard has agreed to become the new men’s basketball coach at Texas Tech.

Beard was previously at Arkansas-Little Rock this past year, leading the Trojans to a 30-5 record, getting to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Within the past week, Beard was tabbed as the new head coach at UNLV, but once Tubby Smith bolted for Memphis, Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt wasted no time and was on a plane to Las Vegas on Thursday night to meet with Beard.

This also means that Texas Tech is willing to pay Beard’s buyout with UNLV, which is $1 million. Texas Tech is set to receive $900,000 from Tubby Smith for leaving for Memphis.

But Texas Tech is home for Beard. Earlier this year when Beard visited with his Little Rock team, he spoke glowingly about Lubbock:

“People ask me all the time where I’m from,” Beard said. “I moved around a lot as a kid and I’ve coached a lot of different places, but Lubbock’s the longest I’ve ever lived somewhere, 10 years. And two of my three daughters were born here.

“It was a little bit emotional. I’d be lying if I said anything different.”

I’m excited and we’ll have more on Beard and what this means for Texas Tech in the coming weeks.

Welcome home to Texas Tech Coach Beard! #WreckEm

Back To Top