Coach Beard

BY MAKENZIE PATTON

With every new school year comes new seasons for multiple sporting events. For the Texas Tech men’s team, not only did they face another demanding season of basketball, but the team added a new yet familiar face to their basketball family.

Chris Beard is the new head coach of the Texas Tech men’s basketball team. Serving as assistant coach for 10 years under Tech coach for seven seasons as well as for another three years.

In regard to being back in Lubbock, Beard said, “It feels great. You know, West Texas, Lubbock and Texas Tech is home to me.”

After moving from Arkansas to Texas Tech, Beard said that everybody has been nice and open which allowed for a smooth transition. At the Homecoming Hoops event in fall of 2016, Beard even thanked Lady Raider basketball for being nice and helping the Red Raiders during their coaching change.

Before the season began, player Justin Gray said he was excited for the season because it would give the team a chance to “gel together” and create that team chemistry it takes to win games. He said Coach Beard implemented new ways of bonding such as taking the team on retreats or bowling in order to bring everyone closer as a team. In lieu of Beard’s bonding methods, Gray said the team is now like a brotherhood.

Having served under many coaches and following in the footsteps of many of the greats, Coach Beard said he’s proud to be associated with both Bob Knight and Patrick Knight and that he takes many things he’s learned from them and applied it to his coaching today.

“One of many things I learned from (Bob Knight) and Pat (Knight) is that, you know, everybody wants to win; there’s not a coach or college basketball player that would tell you any different,” Beard said. “Everybody wants to win, but only a few want to prepare to win.” Before coming to coach at Tech, Coach Beard said he had a firsthand look at the Tech team since his team in Arkansas played Tech last year. He said he has a lot of respect for previous head coach, but said that it’s now his responsibility and his goal to try and take the program to the next level.

Beard said, “I’d like to get the Texas Tech program to the point where we’re not talking about making tournaments, we’re talking about winning tournaments. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but we’ve got a great foundation.”

Since Beard’s arrival, said he feels like he knows the game more. Overall Evans said that Coach Beard has made them more game smart.

Evans said, “I just feel like he’s a coach that brings energy every day. It’s never an off day with him. He’s just really inspirational when he talks. He pushes you to go to another level and he always helps you become a better person and a better player in general.”

In terms of motivation, Beard said that his team is the elite of the elite, so the team is already internally motivated. He said that what the team needs is additional help, coaching and support and they way that is accomplished is by starting with the truth and building from that.

Beard said the relationship with the team was great and he gave the players all of the credit.

“You know, they’re the ones who have bought in; they’re the ones that have been loyal to our program,” Beard said. “Coaching changes are difficult, but all those guys bound together and decided trust the new coach and to stay at Texas Tech, and I’ll forever be indebted to those guys.”

As he continues his career here at Texas Tech, Coach Beard encourages people to come out and support the Red Raider Basketball team. He said there is not a more important group to the basketball team than the student body because the students are an important factor in how the basketball team performs.

“There’s a relationship in college basketball between attendance and winning, and I’m here to win,” Beard said. Because of his familiarity with West Texas, Beard said he was excited about the challenge of coaching in the which he believes to be the best conference in college basketball. He said he considers Tech to be home, so hopefully Texas Tech can look forward to many more seasons of Coach Beard and the Red Raider basketball team as they continue on their journey to success.

Beard said, “There’s nowhere I would rather be than Texas Tech.”