According to a report from FOX News affiliate KIDY in West Texas, Chris Beard has accepted an offer to become the head coach at Texas Tech. However, an unexpected turn of events led to the Texas Tech job opening. New Mexico State’s Marvin Menzies is another top candidate for the Rebels job should Karl not end up in Las Vegas. He said, When momma calls, youve gotta go home. “Lubbock, Texas, the state of Texas and Texas Tech University is where I have always wanted to be”.
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To understand why Beard is a home run hire, one must be willing to accept Texas Tech’s place in the NCAA basketball and overall collegiate sports landscape.
Beard returns to Lubbock after leading Arkansas-Little Rock to a school-record 30 wins and a first-round upset of Purdue in the NCAA Tournament this season.
Beard’s five-year deal with UNLV was reportedly worth at least $900,000 next season and a minimum of $1.4 million by the fourth year. I can not say that I was totally in love with this hire initially, but after hearing him speak about his daughters, his new players, and Texas Tech University I am fully behind everything Chris Beard is about from this point forward.
After a night of uncertainty surrounding Beard’s future, Texas Tech announced Friday that it has hired the coach who was previously an assistant there for 10 seasons. “This unprecedented move is extremely disappointing to the president and I, for our program and to our fans”. In Saturday’s press conference, Beard exuded enthusiasm for being the head coach at Texas Tech.
Hocutt is betting Beard will build on Smith’s success this season, taking Tech back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2007.
Multiple sources are reporting that NMSU head basketball coach Marvin Menzies will take the vacant UNLV job if both parties can reach a deal. Two of my three daughters were born here so it’s really great to see a lot of friends out there…. He also has direct ties to the Runnin’ Rebels program.
“When I contacted and communicated with the team at UNLV, I explained to them why I was leaving”, Beard said.
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“I saved the most important thank you for last”, Beard said with tears in his eyes.
