Texas suspends coach Beard following arrest
AUSTIN, Texas– Texas men’s basketball coach Chris Beard, who led Texas Tech to the 2019 NCAA championship game and was employed away by the Longhorns with expectations he ‘d raise his university to the same elite level, was arrested early Monday on a felony family violence charge after a lady told authorities he strangled and bit her.The school suspended Beard without pay “until more notice.” Associate head coach Rodney Terry coached the No. 7 Longhorns to an 87-81 overtime win against Rice on Monday night.Beard was arrested by Austin cops and booked at the Travis County prison at 4:18 a.m. CT on a charge of assault on a household or home member in which their breath was hindered. The charge is a third-degree felony in Texas, with a possible penalty of 2 to ten years in prison. According to the arrest affidavit initially reported by the Austin American-Statesman, the woman informed police she is his fiancée and they have actually been in a relationship for 6 years. She said they had remained in an argument during which she broke his glasses before he “simply snapped on me and became incredibly violent.” According to the affidavit, the lady informed cops,” He choked me, bit me, swellings all over my leg, throwing me around and going nuts. “She informed police Beard choked her from behind with his arm around her neck and she could not breathe for about five seconds. Police state she ate mark on her best arm and an abrasion to her ideal temple among other noticeable injuries.When questioned by police, Beard said he had audio recordings of the incident that would show he was not the primary assailant. But he declined to share them with officers, authorities said.Beard went before a magistrate judge for his bond hearing, using jailhouse black-and-gray stripes and his hands cuffed in front at his waist. Beard was informed he could
communicate with the woman but not in a threatening manner, was bought to remain 200 backyards away from the home where authorities were called and was informed he is barred from possessing a firearm.Beard nodded his head and addressed” yes, sir”a number of times when resolving the judge. Prison records reveal Beard published$10,000 bond. He didn’t address questions when he left the jail with his lawyer Perry Minton.Minton declined comment however earlier told the American-Statesman the coach is innocent.”He must never ever have actually been detained,”Minton informed the newspaper.”The complainant wants him released right away and all charges dismissed. It is truly impossible.
“It wasn’t immediately understood if the woman has a lawyer.
She was determined in the affidavit, but The Associated Press does not normally identify declared victims of extreme violence without their approval. “The university takes matters of interpersonal violence including members of its neighborhood seriously,”the school said in revealing Beard’s suspension. It did not devote to Terry as the acting coach beyond Monday night. Terry was a head coach at UTEP(2018-2021)and Fresno State( 2011-2018). Beard is in his second season of a seven-year ensured contract that pays him more than$5 million per year. Prior to that, he was 112-55 in five seasons with the Red Raiders. He was called The Associated Press coach of the year in 2019 as he assisted Texas Tech to a 31-7 surface and lost in overtime to Virginia in the championship game game.His departure for Texas– a deal reached after a conference with Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte that included a McDonald’s breakfast an hour’s drive north of Lubbock– left Texas Tech officials frustrated.Beard said it was a challenging relocation, however he could not refuse a possibility to coach at his university, where he was
a student assistant 3 decades ago. Previously this year, he led Texas to a first-round success over Virginia Tech that was the Longhorns’very first NCAA tournament win since 2014. Beard’s contract includes a provision under which he can be fired for cause for conduct the administration fairly determines shows inadequately on the coach, program, school or university system. That consists of being charged with a felony.University of Texas System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife did not return a message seeking comment.Texas freshman guard Arterio Morris faces a misdemeanor family violence charge coming from a June arrest after an event with a former girlfriend. He faces a Wednesday court hearing in Denton County near Dallas.Morris, a leading national hire, has actually been permitted to play this season regardless of the charge,
and averages 17 minutes and 6.5 points per game. Morris’lawyer, Justin Moore, has said Morris is innocent of the assault charge.