Texas suspends Chris Beard after felony domestic violence arrest | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Thursday / March 28.
  • Texas suspends Chris Beard after felony domestic violence arrest

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    By ADAM ZAGORIA

    Texas has suspended men’s basketball coach Chris Beard after he was arrested early Monday on a felony domestic violence charge of choking, biting and scratching a woman.

    Beard is in the second year of a seven-year deal worth more than $5 million annually.

    “The University takes matters of interpersonal violence involving members of its community seriously,” the school said in a statement. “Given the information available, The University has suspended Chris Beard from his position as head coach of Men’s Basketball and will withhold his pay until further notice. Associate Head Coach Rodney Terry will serve as acting head coach for tonight’s game against Rice.”

    Terry, a former head coach at UTEP and Fresno State, coached the No. 7- ranked Longhorns (7-1) in their 87-81 overtime victory over Rice Monday night.

    “Today was a very difficult day,” Terry told reporters following the game.

    Beard, 49, was released Monday afternoon after posting $10,000 in cash bail. The charge is a third-degree felony in Texas, with a possible punishment of two to 10 years in prison.

    The county Sheriff’s Office said Beard was arrested by Austin police and booked at 4:18 a.m. ET on a charge of assault on a family or household member. Per the Austin-American Statesman, the woman told police Beard “choked me, threw me off the bed, bit me, bruises all over my leg, throwing me around, and going nuts.”

    Beard’s attorney, Perry Minton, issued a statement to various media outlets:

    “Coach Beard is 100 percent innocent of these charges. He should have never been arrested. The complainant wants him released immediately and all charges dismissed. It is truly inconceivable.”

    Terry said he gathered the team’s veterans after the news and spoke with them.

    “I took our older guys – our 7 older guys – and I had a really good talk with those guys,” he said. “I told them there are going to be things like this the rest of your life. Adapt and adjust – we have a job to do.”

    Terry added: “”I love Beard like my own brother,” but said he had not had any contact with him.

    “We were just trying to rally around our guys and get their minds in the right place,” he said.

    (The AP contributed)

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    Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

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