Longhorns Ex Chris Beard Ready for Transparency at Ole Miss: 'I'm an Open Book'
Chris Beard still has that fiery edge that put him in the conversation of best coach in college basketball over the past few seasons.
But he understands this is more than hoops.
After admitting the adversity he's been through over the past three grueling months, the former Texas Longhorns coach spoke to the media alongside Ole Miss Rebels AD Keith Carter for the first time Tuesday since being arrested on Dec. 12, as he was officially introduced as the next head men's basketball coach at Ole Miss.
Pictures of Beard in handcuffs and classic prisoner wear exploded over the internet after the 50-year-old was booked into a Travis County jail in Austin on third-degree felony charges shortly after his arrest. He was suspended without pay by the University of Texas at Austin before being fired altogether on Jan. 5.
However, those charges were dropped on Feb. 15. Now, though some might find it controversial, his new opportunity is here - both to address questions surrounding his assault charge and why he's the right guy for the program.
"I would tell people to get to know me, to give me a chance, and I'm gonna work hard at relationships," Beard said. "I think I'm an open book in a lot of ways ... Let's form a real relationship, a relationship built on trust."
In his short time at Texas, Beard's proved that relationships and community outreach was an important part of what he stood for as a coach. Whether it was using the program's platform to honor historical figures of Longhorns basketball or getting extra involved with the students on campus, Beard continued to build up a reputation that already been well respected in the NCAA dating back to his days with the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Lubbock.
But a little under four years after leading Tech to the 2019 National Championship, his world completely changed once those handcuffs were put on.
And now, it's changing again, this time through a fresh start in Oxford.
There's still work to be done before Beard can gain the trust he eluded to on Tuesday. But all he needed was for Carter's trust to give him a boost, something he clearly plans on taking advantage of.
"I understand the trust that was put in me to lead this great, historic program, and I'm not gonna let anybody down," Beard said.
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Longhorns? Click Here to Subscribe to the Longhorns Country Newsletter
Want even more Texas Longhorns? Check out the SI.com team page here
Follow Longhorns Country on Twitter and Facebook.
Make sure to subscribe to the Longhorns Country Podcast today! Click here To Listen.
