Texas Basketball: 4 early coaching candidates to replace Chris Beard
The news came down on Jan. 5 that Texas basketball parted ways with head coach Chris Beard as his legal situation continues after an arrest on assault charges took place last month. A report from ESPN on the afternoon of Jan. 5 details the firing of Beard roughly one month after he was arrested in Travis County on felony assault charges.
There wasn’t much of a surprise reaction coming from social media upon the news of Texas officially parting ways with Beard.
Beard was originally suspended without pay after the news came to light of the arrest and the assault charges last month. And according to a report from the Austin American-Statesman on Jan. 4, the university can ‘terminate him “for cause” before the end of the contract period’.
Moreover, there was a statement released by Texas athletic director Chris del Conte following the news of the firing of Beard.
Statement from University of Texas Vice President and Athletics Director Chris Del Conte on termination of Chris Beard as Texas basketball’s head coach: pic.twitter.com/JzDUNmYPmd
— Will Baizer (@WillBaizer) January 5, 2023
Rodney Terry and the possible early Texas basketball head coaching candidates to replace Chris Beard
Acting head coach Rodney Terry will now be taking over the duties as the bench boss for the rest of the 2022-23 season. Texas has registered a record of 5-1 (1-1 Big 12) in the six games with Terry as the interim head coach thus far.
The sole loss for the Longhorns so far in the half-dozen games this team played under Terry as the acting head coach came on Jan. 3 in a defensive meltdown at the Moody Center at the hands of the Kansas State Wildcats, which ended by a score of 116-103. But Texas has mostly played well under Terry’s direction this season.
What’s next for Texas in terms of the coaching situation after the university parted ways with Beard on Jan. 5? Here’s a look at some early coaching candidates to consider for Texas following the 2022-23 season.