Chris Beard: podcast appearances and interviews

Christopher Michael Beard, born February 18, 1973, is an American basketball coach currently serving as the head men's coach at the University of Mississippi, commonly known as Ole Miss. He has previously held head coaching positions at Texas, Texas Tech, Little Rock, Angelo State, and McMurry. Beard graduated from McCullough High School in The Woodlands, Texas, and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology in 1995 from the University of Texas. During his time at Texas, he worked as a manager under former Longhorns coach Tom Penders. He further obtained a Masters of Education from Abilene Christian University, where he served as a graduate assistant in 1998. During his tenure at Texas Tech, Beard led the Red Raiders to their deepest NCAA Tournament runs in school history, including a remarkable 2019 season in which the team won a school-record 31 games and reached the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game against Virginia. His coaching accomplishments earned him recognition as the 2019 AP National Coach of the Year. His career reflects a consistent trajectory of leadership and success within college basketball.