Dear UT Community,

Since I became president in September, one of my primary goals has been putting together a leadership team that can help our entire campus strive for greater levels of excellence. We want to be the very best in all we do, and our athletics program is no different. It is therefore with great excitement that I can share news of Chris Beard’s appointment as UT’s new head coach for men’s basketball.

A proud Longhorn, Coach Beard joins us from Texas Tech University, where he guided the Red Raiders to the 2019 NCAA Championship Game and the 2018 Elite Eight. The 2019 Associated Press National Coach of the Year, Beard inherited a program at Tech coming off five losing seasons. Having since advanced to four NCAA tournaments, he has what it takes to help our men’s basketball program reach new heights.

Raised in Irving, Texas, Chris earned a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology in 1995 from UT, where he worked as a student assistant for legendary basketball coach Tom Penders. He loves this university and understands what makes it so special. In bringing Chris home, I’m indebted to UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife for his support, and to our director of athletics, Vice President Chris Del Conte, for leading the search.

You can read more about Chris and his exciting list of achievements on our official announcement page. Please join me in welcoming Coach Beard!

Hook ‘em,

Jay Hartzell
President