Chris Beard 'Top Candidate' For Ole Miss Job, Reports Indicate

The former coach of the Texas Longhorns has reportedly emerged as Keith Carter's top target in Oxford.

OXFORD, Miss. -- Former Texas Longhorns head coach Chris Beard has reportedly emerged as the top candidate for the vacant position with the Ole Miss Rebels, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

According to the story from Pete Thamel and Jeff Borzello, "The sides have been in recent contact, sources told ESPN, and Ole Miss officials are in the process of doing their due diligence on Beard."

It was also reported on Monday that the Rebels and Beard were in contact concerning the basketball job.

Beard was fired from his position with the Longhorns after an arrest on the morning of Dec. 12. His fiancée, Randi Trew, called the authorities and claimed that the coach had choked and physically assaulted her, although she later released a statement on Dec. 23 backtracking that report.

On Feb. 15, the charges against Beard were dropped following Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza analyzing the evidence and following Trew's wishes to not prosecute Beard. 

"I am pleased with the announcement that the charges against me have been dismissed," Beard said in a statement following the dropping of charges. "While I always had faith and confidence in the truth and this outcome, it has been extremely challenging to wait patiently and not publicly respond. I'm sorry and deeply remorseful to my family, friends, all my players and staff both most recent and past, and everyone at my alma mater The University of Texas."

Now, it is up to the Rebels to dig into the incident and other areas of Beard's past and see if he is a fit in Oxford following the firing of Kermit Davis.

Davis was let go this season after posting a 74-79 record with the Rebels and failing to reach the NCAA Tournament after an appearance during his first season at Ole Miss. Beard, by comparison, has led three different programs to the NCAA Tournament since 2016 and led the Texas Tech Red Raiders to the national championship game in 2019.

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