Chris Beard is back where it all began.
Three decades after he started serving as a student assistant to Tom Penders from 1991-95, kicking off what’s become a considerably successful coaching career, Beard has agreed to become the Texas Longhorns next head basketball coach, as first reported by Stadium’s Jeff Goodman.
ESPN’s Jeff Borzelo confirmed the report.
The news comes just shy of a week after former Texas head coach Shaka Smart elected to leave the program after six seasons — likely a mutual decision for both parties — to become the Marquette’s next coach, and on the day that Beard’s Big 12 buyout drops from $5 million to $4 million.