Fans of Arkansas Razorback basketball may have to wait a few more days to learn who their next head coach will be.
According to Bob Holt of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, University of Arkansas Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek wants to talk to Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard. Beard’s Red Raider team will make their first Final Four appearance this weekend, and any talks will have to wait until the team’s season ends.
Beard is no stranger to Arkansas, having led the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Trojans in 2015-16 to an NCAA Tournament appearance and finishing 30-5. The 46-year-old coach led Texas Tech to the Elite Eight last season and has a 57-16 record in the last two seasons.
Beard signed a six-year, $19 million deal with Texas Tech last season. The contract gradually increases to $3.3 million annually through the 2023-24 season.
Texas Tech Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt told the Dallas Morning News earlier this week that he is ready to upgrade Beard’s contract and that discussions regarding a new contract began in February.
Texas Tech began construction on a $30 million practice facility in December, and Hocutt said he believes in the school’s ability to continue investing in its basketball program and retain Beard.
Arkansas AD wants to talk to Texas Tech coach Chris Beard, sources say: https://t.co/X8SSTVwOhd
— WholeHogSports.com (@wholehogsports) April 4, 2019
Beard is a native of Texas and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and Abilene Christian University. His first coaching job was as an assistant at UT, and he spent a decade (2001-11) as an assistant at Texas Tech.
Arkansas has also been connected with Nevada’s Eric Musselman, Iowa’s Fran McCaffery, Minnesota’s Richard Pitino and former UCLA coach Steve Alford. Late Wednesday, McCaffery told reporters he had not been in contact with anyone from the University of Arkansas.
Hawkeye coach Fran McCaffery shoots down rumors that he's looking at the Arkansas opening. https://t.co/Hud6Q5yK8q
— Hawkeye Nation (@HawkeyeNationHQ) April 4, 2019
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Read more:Â Fran McCaffery, Richard Pitino or Steve Alford?