Dec 12, 2022; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns men’s basketball coach Chris Beard walks out of the Travis county Jail with his Defense Attorney Perry Q. Minton on Monday afternoon Dec. 12, 2022. Chris Beard who is faces a domestic assault charge. Beard was booked into jail at 4:18 a.m. Monday, according to the Travis County sheriff’s office jail records. Beard faces a third-degree felony charge of assault on a family/household member-impede breath circulation. Mandatory Credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell-USA TODAY NETWORK
BREAKING: Texas fires men’s basketball coach Chris Beard, who faces a felony domestic violence charge
The University of Texas fired head basketball coach Chris Beard Thursday. Beard was suspended without pay after being arrested on Dec. 12 due to a felony domestic family violence charge.
Charges of assault by strangulation/suffocation family violence carry possible prison sentences of up to 10 years. Beard’s contract had five years remaining but also included a provision that he could be fired for cause if charged with a felony. As a result, Beard will not be entitled to any of the salary or buyout money from the seven-year contract Beard signed before the 2021-2022 season.
“The University of Texas has parted ways with Chris Beard,” Longhorns’ athletic director Chris Del Conte said in a 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.”
Beard’s next court date is scheduled for Jan. 18.
Rodney Terry, who took over as interim head coach when Beard’s suspension began, will remain in that role through at least the rest of the 2022-2023 season.
Gallery Sports will have more on this developing story as details become available.
