University of Texas fires boys Head basketball coach Chris Beard. The school announced the move on Thursday, with Beard being expelled nearly a month after Beard was arrested for felony domestic violence. Beard’s fiancée called Austin police when the two allegedly had an argument in which Beard allegedly strangled and bit her, leaving her bruised. Beard is facing third-degree domestic violence charges in Travis County, where Austin is located. The case is pending and Beard has yet to be prosecuted, according to the Travis County Clerk’s filing.
Longhorns shoot beards on the grounds that the school doesn’t have to pay the 49-year-old the rest of his $2 million-per-season base salary, which is due through the end of the 2027-28 season. Texas also doesn’t benefit from all of Beard’s contract offers, which can total more than $1 million in additional per season.
“This is a difficult situation that we have managed to overcome. Beard today of our decision to fire him, effective immediately,” University of Texas Athletics Vice President and Director Chris Del Conte said in a statement. “We thank Coach Rodney Terry for his exemplary leadership both on and off the field at a time when our team needed it most. We are grateful that he will remain as acting head coach for the remainder of the season.”
beard is chance to resign, according to the Austin American-Statesman, but no. Beard has been suspended from the unpaid program since his arrest on December 12. He was booked into the Travis County jail and released the same day after posting bail. Beard, a Texas alumnus who was hired as head coach of the Longhorns in April 2021, is from Texas Tech, where he led the Red Raiders to a national championship in 2019.
