HOT BOARD: Who Could Replace Chris Beard As Longhorns Coach?

After firing Chris Beard, the Longhorns have named Rodney Terry as acting head coach for the remainder of the season. But what happens next?

AUSTIN - The cloud of the Chris Beard controversy has now dissipated from the Texas Longhorns program after the school terminated the former head coach on Thursday, and sent an emphatic statement in the process. 

In replacement of Beard, the Longhorns have named Rodney Terry as the acting head coach for the remainder of the 2022-23 season.

Upon the conclusion of this season, however, the Longhorns could elect to make another splash hire, much like they have done in previous years with Beard and Shaka Smart. 

And as we are now well aware, the Longhorns are not afraid to spend the money to make that splash.

So who could ultimately replace Beard in Austin? LonghornsCountry.com has a few names in mind that could be good fits for the 40 Acres. 

Easy Call

1) Rodney Terry - Acting head coach, Texas

Terry will finish out this season as the head coach of the Longhorns, which will provide him with the best opportunity of any coach to show what he can do with the program as it currently stands. 

Terry has the Longhorns at 5-1 overall and 2-1 in Big 12 play since taking over for Beard. We already know that the players respond to him. And he has already done a phenomenal job holding the program together over the last few weeks. 

Should he take the Longhorns on a deep tournament run, he could officially take over the job for the long term. 

Big Swings

2) Nate Oats - Alabama

The coach of the Crimson Tide since 2019, Nate Oats has had great success in Tuscaloosa, making the tournament in each of the last two seasons, including a 26-7 overall record and a Sweet 16 appearance in 2020-21.

This year, the Tide are sitting at 12-2 and ranked as the No. 7 team in the country, with wins over No. 2 Houston, North Carolina, and Memphis. His two losses have come at the hands of No. 9 Gonzaga and No. 4 Connecticut 

3) Eric Musselman - Arkansas

Coming over from Nevada to Fayetteville in 2019, Eric Musselman has led the Hogs to three consecutive 20-plus seasons since taking over the program, as well as three-straight NCAA Tournaments. 

In each season, the win total for the Hogs has increased as well, going 20-12 in 2019-20, 25-7 in 2020-21, and 28-9 in 2021-22.

He has also made back-to-back Elite Eights.

4) Mick Cronin - UCLA

Since taking over as the coach for the Bruins in 2019-20, Mick Cronin has led his team to back-to-back winning seasons, including a 27-8 record in 2021-22. He has also led the Bruins to a Final Four (2020-21) and a Sweet 16 last season.

Before UCLA, Cronin led the Cincinnati Bearcats to three 30-plus win seasons, a 28-win season, and two other 20-plus win seasons, making the tournament in each of his six years and winning two conference titles. 

In 2022-23, Cronin has the Bruins at 13-2 and ranked No. 10 in the country.

Up and Comers

5) Grant McCasland - North Texas

An in-state up-and-comer in the coaching game, North Texas' Grant McCasland has turned the North Texas program into arguably the best in Conference USA. 

In four of the past five seasons, McCasland has guided the Mean Green to 20-plus win seasons, including an NCAA tournament in 2020-21. That season, he earned the school's first-ever NCAA Tournament win in an upset of No. 4-seeded Purdue. 

McCasland was also one name being thrown around during the initial search for Chris Beard.

6) Drew Valentine - Loyola Chicago

The youngest head coach in Division 1 at just 31 years old, Loyola Chicago's Drew Valentine took over for Porter Moser after the latter left for Oklahoma in 2021.

And in his first season with the Ramblers, he was wildly successful, going 25-8, finishing second in the Missouri Valley Conference and making the NCAA tournament. 

He is considered one of the fastest risers in the profession.

7) Jeff Linder - Wyoming

Another fast riser, 45-year-old Jeff Linder did what many thought to be impossible, and got the Wyoming Cowboys in the NCAA Tournament last season while going 25-8. 

The Cowboys have struggled this season, sitting at 5-9, but Linder has proved he can win, turning in three-straight 20-plus win seasons at Northern Colorado before heading to Laramie. 

Other Names to Know

Royal Ivey - Assistant Coach, Brooklyn Nets

Russell Springman - Oral Roberts

Joe Golding - UTEP

Niko Medved - Colorado State 

Shantay Legans - Portland

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You can follow Matt Galatzan on Twitter @MattGalatzan

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