BREAKING - Source: Longhorns in ‘Active Pursuit’ of Texas Tech Coach Chris Beard

Scoop: The Texas Longhorns are zeroing in on their replacement for the recently departed Shaka Smart, and they aren't looking very far

Matt Galatzan | Mar 26, 2021

Decision-makers at the University of Texas are currently in 'active pursuit' of Texas Tech Red Raiders Chris Beard to replace Shaka Smart as the next head coach for the Longhorns, a high-placed UT source tells LonghornsCountry.com.

Beard, who was a manager for the Texas Longhorns under coach Tom Penders (1991-1995), has had an impressive run in Lubbock, recording a record of 112-55 (.671 winning percentage) and 49-40 (.551) in the Big 12.

Some of Beard’s highlights include appearing in the 2019 National Championship, losing to Virginia in overtime, and reaching the Elite Eight in his first season.

Beard would bring his unique “no-middle” defense, which has ranked No. 4, No. 1, No. 9, and No. 24 in defensive efficiency in the nation from 2018 through 2021, to Texas.

So how much would the Longhorns have to pay to pry Beard away from the Red Raiders? We have confirmed with UT officials that the number for that buyout would be at least $4 million.

Chris Beard's buyout to go to another Big 12 school drops to $4 million on April 1, sources told ESPN. $2 million for any school outside the Big 12.

Just, you know, in case anyone is randomly wondering this morning.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 26, 2021

That amount of money would normally be a bit of an issue for most schools, but this is Texas. And with Smart accepting a job at another school (at the urging of UT, we are told), which allows Texas to bypass the financial ramifications from firing him, the road to finding Smart's replacement, and securing the funds to hire Beard, becomes that much easier.

Who do you think the Longhorns will hire to replace Smart? Comment and join in on the discussion below!

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CONTINUE READING: BREAKING: Shaka Smart Leaving Texas; Longhorns To Pursue Texas Tech Coach?

Published Mar 26, 2021

MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan is the Managing Editor and Publisher of Texas Longhorns On SI and Texas A&M Aggies On SI and a long-time member of the Football Writer’s Association of America. He graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry in 2014 covering the Dallas Mavericks and SMU Mustangs with 247Sports. He then moved to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of the Longhorns and Aggies sites a year later. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @MattGalatzan.