SAN ANGELO, Texas – Chris Beard has been named the fifth head men's basketball coach in Angelo State history announced today by Angelo State Athletics Director Sean Johnson.

“I want to thank President (Dr. Brian) May and Athletics Director Sean Johnson for the opportunity to coach at Angelo State,” Beard said. “It's a first-class academic institution and a school with years and years of basketball tradition.”

Beard brings 18 years of successful coaching experience as both a head coach and assistant at the NCAA Division I, Division II, NJCAA and professional levels. 

“Our teams will always start with the character of our players,” Beard said. “We want to recruit true student-athletes who are serious about getting a degree and being the best basketball player that they can become. Our teams always start with defense and rebounding. Each game we play we want to defend the best we can and on offense we want to be an unselfish team that shares the ball. We really emphasize utilizing each player's talent.”

Beard comes to ASU after one season as head coach at McMurry. He led the War Hawks through their first year as a NCAA Division II program, posting a 19-10 record while advancing to the regional final of the National Christian College Athletic Association national tournament.  Beard guided McMurry to a 3-1 record against Lone Star Conference teams, including a win over NCAA Division II Tournament qualifier Cameron, and an 8-6 record against Heartland Conference squads.                                                                                                                               

“Coach Beard brings an incredible combination of skills and experience that will make him successful here at Angelo State,” Johnson said. “My personal relationship with Chris dates back over 15 years and I have had the pleasure of watching his career flourish since then.  He has been successful recruiting inside and outside the state of Texas, has proven himself as a head coach and received a once in a lifetime basketball PhD from one of the greatest teachers of the game in Coach Knight.”

Prior to McMurry, Beard was the head coach of the South Carolina Warriors of the American Basketball Association. He led the team to a 31-2 record, a Mid Atlantic Division Championship and an appearance in the ABA Finals.

Beard was a part of the Texas Tech staff from 2001-2011 as an assistant coach under Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight and was promoted to associate head coach in 2008 under Pat Knight. Tech won 188 games and advanced to the postseason six times including four trips to the NCAA Tournament and a trip to the NIT Postseason Final Four. While Beard was at Tech, the Red Raiders had 11 student-athletes named all-conference and had 32 of its 34 student-athletes graduate with degrees.

Beard was the head basketball coach at Seminole State College in Oklahoma during the 2000-2001 season. His team posted a 25-6 record and finished the season ranked No. 14 in the country. While at SSC he had all nine sophomores graduate and receive scholarship offers.

Beard was the head basketball coach at Fort Scott Community College for two seasons and coached the team to its first winning season in eight years. The Greyhounds finished with a 44-18 record in Beard's two seasons and earned two trips to the regional tournament.

He was an assistant coach during the 1997-1999 seasons at the University of North Texas under head coach Vic Trilli. UNT's 1998 and 1999 recruiting classes both received national attention.

Beard was an assistant coach at Abilene Christian University in 1996-1997. He helped sign, as recruiting coordinator, a recruiting class that was nationally ranked in NCAA Division II. The Wildcats qualified for the Lone Star Conference Tournament and ended the season with a 15-12 record. Beard completed his master's degree in education from Abilene Christian University in 1998.

In 1995-1996, Beard was a graduate assistant coach at the University of the Incarnate Word under head coach Danny Kaspar. He helped lead UIW to a 20-9 season and the Heart of Texas Conference Championship.

He is a 1995 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. During his stay in Austin, he worked as a student assistant for head coach Tom Penders.

Born in Marietta, Georgia, and raised in Irving, he graduated from McCullough High School in The Woodlands, Texas, where he played for coach Terry Priest. Chris and his wife, Leslie, have three daughters, Avery, Ella, and Margo.
 

Quotes

“I knew Chris wanted this job badly. It's a great fit. He knows that area and he's had a very good track record of being a head coach and an assistant coach. I'm sure he'll do very well at Angelo State.”
Bill Self, Kansas University Head Coach

“Angelo State is making an excellent choice in hiring Chris Beard as its new head coach. Our staff has known Chris for many years and we have a lot of respect for him, both as a coach and a person. He is a very good coach and a tireless recruiter with strong ties throughout the state of Texas. Chris learned under the best in the business in Bob Knight while an assistant at Texas Tech. We know how excited Chris is for this opportunity, and he should be a great fit at Angelo State.”
Rick Barnes, University of Texas

“This is a great hire for Angelo State. Chris is a quality person with a tremendous basketball background. He is a tireless recruiter, who will bring an exciting style of play to Angelo State. Chris will be an outstanding representative for the basketball program, the Athletics Department and the University.”
James Dickey, University of Houston Head Coach

 “Angelo State should be congratulated for the hiring of a consummate winner in Chris Beard. He has won everywhere he has been. His players have always won on the court and off the court.” 
Frank Martin, University of South Carolina Head Coach

"Chris is unique in that he is both an excellent coach and effective recruiter.  Every stop along the way in his career has seen major progress due to his efforts."
Steve Green, South Plains College