CUFFED

University of Texas Basketball Coach Arrested for Domestic Assault

Chris Beard was detained on a charge that included impeding “breath circulation.”

University of Texas men’s basketball head coach Chris Beard was arrested Monday morning and charged with third-degree felony assault on a family or household member in Austin. Booking records from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office website say the charge against Beard, 49, involved impeding “breath circulation.” Austin police spokesperson Brandon Jones said Beard allegedly choked someone at the house in Tarrytown, west Austin, according to the Austin American-Statesman. It’s not clear who occupied the house where the incident allegedly took place. Officers received a “disturbance-urgent” call at 2:07 a.m. on Monday. Beard was booked into jail around two hours later. His attorney, Perry Minton, told the Statesman: “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.” The coach has been leading the Longhorns since 2021 following a six-year stint at Texas Tech.