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.”
NEW: The Statesman has obtained Chris Beard's arrest affidavit.
— Ryan Autullo (@AutulloAAS) December 12, 2022
A woman told police Beard "choked me, threw me off the bed, bit me, bruises all over my leg, throwing me around, and going nuts."
She said the choking lasted for five seconds and impeded her breathing, police say.
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.”These are the (alleged) injuries to the victim listed in the police affidavit in the arrest of Chris Beard.
— Geoff Ketchum (@gkketch) December 12, 2022
The full arrest affidavit is a rough read. pic.twitter.com/joJbOdYFK0
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) Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram And Like ZAGS on FacebookNEW: Authorities have released a booking photo of University of Texas basketball coach Chris Beard after his arrest early today on a domestic violence charge. Authorities say a woman alleges she was assaulted and chocked by Beard. pic.twitter.com/hlzZDJ2b2R
— Tony Plohetski (@tplohetski) December 12, 2022
