University of Texas head men’s basketball coach Chris Beard was arrested and charged with assault on a family member early Monday, Austin, Texas, police have confirmed.
Austin police spokesman Brandon Jones said Beard is accused of choking a person at a home in the Tarrytown neighborhood in West Austin. Officers responded to a 911 “disturbance-urgent” call at 2:07 a.m. Monday.
Beard was booked into jail at 4:18 a.m. Monday, according to the Travis County sheriff’s office jail records. Beard, 49, faces a third-degree felony charge of assault on a family/household member-impede breath circulation.
Beard was still in jail as of 9 a.m. Monday with no bail amount set, according to online jail records.
UT released a brief statement on the arrest, saying “the university is aware of the situation regarding Chris Beard. We are continuing to gather information and monitoring the legal process.”
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Beard’s attorney, Perry Minton, told the Austin American-Statesman at 10:30 a.m., “Coach Beard is 100% innocent of these charges. He should never have been arrested. The complainant wants him released immediately and all charges dismissed. It is truly inconceivable.”
Beard, 49, is in his second year at Texas. Before replacing Shaka Smart in 2021, Beard spent five seasons at Texas Tech and led the Red Raiders to the NCAA championship game in 2019. Beard, who has also coached at Fort Scott Community College, Seminole State College, McMurry…
