Ex-Longhorns Coach Chris Beard 'Proud' of Elite 8 Team, Rodney Terry

Former Texas men's basketball head coach Chris Beard was in the midst of a season trying to take the Longhorns to their first Final Four appearance in 20 years.

That plan went sideways when Beard was fired Jan. 5 after an incident with his fiancé Dec. 12, 2022, led to third-degree felony assault charges that were later dropped. However, Beard still watched the team he helped put together from a far and he said on the Field of 68's "Off the Carousel!" Monday that he was "so proud of those guys."

"That was a team that we put together to play in the Final Four, a team we put together to play on Monday night and they were right there," Beard said. "If Dylan Disu doesn't get hurt, I think they're playing in Houston."

OFF THE CAROUSEL!

New Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard on the path that led him from Austin to Oxford, supporting the Texas team he built and Rodney Terry getting the Texas job.

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— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) May 22, 2023

Last season, the Longhorns went 29-9, which was their best winning percentage since the 2010-11 season and their most wins since their 31 victories in their last Elite Eight appearance in 2007-08.

Texas head coach Rodney Terry served as the interim head coach after Beard's arrest Dec. 12, 2022, and was at the helm for 21 of the Longhorns' 29 victories, winning the Big 12 Championship.

Terry, coupled with the extraordinary talent of Texas' roster, made a run to the Elite Eight, losing to Miami 88-81. His efforts in his first couple months as the interim head coach earned him the full-time position job March 27.

Beard, now the head coach for Ole Miss, said he is "absolutely" happy that Terry got hired as Texas' 26th men's basketball coach.

"I remember talking to R.T. when he was the head coach at UTEP, talking to him about coming to Texas and being on our staff," Beard said. "We had a vision, not only for the team's success but also our careers. Mine, his, the other staff members, so yeah super proud of R.T. Nobody pulls harder for him than I do."

You can follow Casey Smith on Twitter @casey_smith2419

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