Three weeks ago, it seemed as if the UNLV basketball team had found their new head coach in Chris Beard, but that was until the Texas Tech job opened up. Less than three weeks after Beard accepted the job at UNLV, he has changed his mind and was hired as the head coach with the Red Raiders on Friday.
Beard agreed to a five-year deal with Texas Tech, where he was an assistant for about a decade. Athletic director Kirby Hocutt was extremely excited when he announced the hire, saying "our program achieved tremendous success this year, and I see that as something Chris will build upon and take us to even further heights." He also went on to welcome Chris "home."
The former Arkansas-Little Rock head coach led his team to the NCAA Tournament this past year, and even pulled off the first round upset over Purdue. All of that in his first year as a Division 1 head coach.
He would go on to agree to a five-year, $900,000 deal with UNLV on March 28th, but had to wait 11 days until the school could ratify the contract.
In those 11 days, Texas Tech lost Tubby Smith as their head coach, and eyed Beard as a top candidate. UNLV athletic director Tina Kunzer-Murphy says she was contacted by Texas Tech officials for permission to interview Beard.
While waiting for the UNLV contract to be ratified, there was no wait for a deal with Texas Tech. After losing out on Beard, the Rebels have since added New Mexico State's Marvin Menzies to fill the position.
Beard agreed to a five-year deal with Texas Tech, where he was an assistant for about a decade. Athletic director Kirby Hocutt was extremely excited when he announced the hire, saying "our program achieved tremendous success this year, and I see that as something Chris will build upon and take us to even further heights." He also went on to welcome Chris "home."
The former Arkansas-Little Rock head coach led his team to the NCAA Tournament this past year, and even pulled off the first round upset over Purdue. All of that in his first year as a Division 1 head coach.
He would go on to agree to a five-year, $900,000 deal with UNLV on March 28th, but had to wait 11 days until the school could ratify the contract.
In those 11 days, Texas Tech lost Tubby Smith as their head coach, and eyed Beard as a top candidate. UNLV athletic director Tina Kunzer-Murphy says she was contacted by Texas Tech officials for permission to interview Beard.
While waiting for the UNLV contract to be ratified, there was no wait for a deal with Texas Tech. After losing out on Beard, the Rebels have since added New Mexico State's Marvin Menzies to fill the position.
