AUSTIN, Texas — Chris Beard, the Texas men’s basketball coach hired by the Longhorns in hopes of leading Texas Tech to the 2019 NCAA championship game and bringing his alma mater to the same elite level, was arrested early Monday morning. it was done. He was charged with felony domestic violence after he told police that a woman had strangled and bitten her.
The school suspended Beard without pay “until further notice.” Associate head coach Rodney Terry took over as head coach on Monday night as he needed overtime for the No. 7 Longhorns to beat Rice 87-81.
Beard was arrested by Austin police and charged Monday at 4:18 a.m. CT in Travis County Jail for obstructing breathing for assaulting a family member or household member. The charges are a third-degree felony in Texas and carry a sentence of two years in prison to 10 years for him.
The woman told police she was his fiancée and they had been dating for six years, according to an arrest affidavit first reported by the Austin American-Statesman. She said they had an altercation where she broke his glasses before he “just snapped at me and got very violent.”
According to an affidavit, the woman told police, “He choked me, bit me, bruised me all over my leg, threw me around and drove me insane.”
She told police that Beard put an arm around her neck from behind and strangled her, leaving her unable to breathe for about five seconds. Police said she had a bite mark on her right arm and a scrape on her right temple.
When questioned by police, Beard said he had an audio recording of the incident. But he refused to share them with officers, police said.
Beard appeared before a magistrate for a bail hearing, dressed in the black and gray striped robes of the jail and handcuffed in front of his waist. I was told that I was not being polite, I was ordered to stay 200 yards from the residence where the police were called, and I was told that I was not allowed to carry a gun.
Beard nodded his head and answered “yes sir” several times as he addressed the judge. Beard posted his $10,000 bail, according to prison records. He did not answer questions when he left prison with his attorney, Perry Minton.
Minton declined to comment, but told the American politician that the coach was innocent.
“He should never have been arrested,” Minton told the newspaper. “Complainants want his immediate release and the dismissal of all charges.
It was not immediately clear if the woman had a lawyer. Although she was identified in her affidavit, the Associated Press typically does not identify alleged victims of extreme violence without their consent.
“The university takes seriously the issue of interpersonal violence involving members of the community,” the school said in announcing Beard’s suspension.
Terry was head coach at UTEP (2018-21) and Fresno State University (2011-18). After Monday night’s victory over Rice, he said he had not discussed his future as acting head coach with Texas officials. praised the Longhorns for their matchup with Rice, which he called one of the best.
“We have a very experienced staff who have done a great job up to this point and are well prepared for this match. [Monday]said Terry. I thought our players did a great job of showing a lot of grit and perseverance through a lot of adversity.
“They got a day off to try to regroup mentally and physically and recharge a bit. [Tuesday].”
Terry said he hasn’t spoken to Beard since he was released from prison on Monday. Terry also said he did not read the police affidavit detailing the allegations against the now-suspended coach.
“I was really focused on the players today and trying to get them together,” he said. “We knew we had to come here tonight and play 40 minutes. It was not an easy game.”
Beard, the 2019 AP Coach of the Year while attending Texas Tech University, is in the second season of his seven-year guaranteed contract in Texas and is paying more than $5 million a year. His contract contains a clause that allows him to be dismissed for conduct that management reasonably determined was improperly reflected in the coach, program, school or college system. That includes being charged with a felony.
Kevin Eltife, chairman of the University of Texas System Board of Trustees, did not return messages seeking comment.
texas freshman guard Alterio Morris He faces misdemeanor domestic violence charges stemming from his arrest in June after an incident with an ex-girlfriend. He faces a court hearing Wednesday in Denton County, near Dallas.
Morris, the nation’s top recruit, has been cleared to play this season despite billing, averaging 17 minutes and 6.5 points per game. Morris’ attorney, Justin Moore, said Morris was acquitted of the assault charges.
ESPN’s Myron Medcalf and Associated Press contributed to this report.
