The University of Texas has fired men’s head basketball coach Chris Beard while he faces a domestic violence charge, according to multiple reports.
The charge stems from an incident with his fiancée, Randi Trew, on Dec. 12. Trew initially said Beard strangled her, but she retracted her statement on Dec. 23.
“Chris did not strangle me, and I told that to law enforcement that evening,” Trew said. “Chris has stated that he was acting in self-defense, and I do not refute that. I do not believe Chris was trying to intentionally harm me in any way. It was never my intent to have him arrested or prosecuted.”
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Texas Longhorns head coach Chris Beard during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 6, 2022, in New York City.
(Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
Trew added she broke Beard’s glasses in frustration, which “initiated a physical struggle between Chris and myself.”
Trew first stated Beard bit her and strangled her from behind to the point she couldn’t breathe for several seconds. She told police “he just snapped on me and became super violent,” adding that Beard “choked me, threw me off the bed, bit me, bruises all over my leg, throwing me around and going nuts,” according to a court affidavit.
Christopher Michael Beard, 49, faces a felony domestic violence charge.
(Austin Police Dept)
TEXAS COACH CHRIS BEARD’S FIANCEE RETRACTS ALLEGATIONS HE STRANGLED HER
Beard told police in a separate report that Trew struck him, and he tried to grab her wrists to stop her.
Beard was suspended indefinitely without pay after he was arrested.
A Jan. 18 court hearing is scheduled.
Beard was in his second season of a seven-year deal after spending his previous five seasons at Texas Tech. He led the Red Raiders to the NCAA Tournament championship in 2019, losing to Virginia in an overtime thriller. Last year’s Longhorns team was eliminated in the Round of 32 by Purdue.
Head coach Chris Beard of the Texas Longhorns during the Virginia Tech Hokies game at Fiserv Forum on March 18, 2022, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
(Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
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With the Red Raiders and Longhorns, he owns a 141-68 record, having made each of the last four March Madness tournaments.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
