The Texas Longhorns begin their first year under head coach Chris Beard with its highest ranking in more than a decade.
The Horns are ranked fifth in the Associated Press Top-25 Poll, the highest preseason ranking for the Horns since 2009-2010 when they were ranked third.
Beard, 48, was hired away from Texas Tech where he served as an assistant coach for 10 years and a head coach for the last five years. He led the Red Raiders to the 2019 NCAA national championship game, the 2018 Elite Eight, a Big 12 Championship and three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. He was the 2019 Associated Press National Coach of the Year.
“I can't express how excited I am for this opportunity and the journey that lies ahead,” Beard said on the day he was hired. “It's time to get to work. Our top priority will be embracing our players as soon as we get to campus, and I look forward to starting this journey together toward our championship goals."
This is the seventh head coaching stop for Beard, who also led programs at Arkansas-Little Rock, Angelo State, McMurry University, Seminole State College and Fort Scott Community College. His overall record is 252-103.
Other Big 12 Conference schools on the preseason AP poll include the Kansas Jayhawks (No.3) and the Baylor Bears (No. 8). The Longhorns open their season on Nov. 9 against Houston Baptist University.
This will be Texas’ final season in the Big 12 before moving on the Southeastern Conference next season, a move that Beard says will make the Horns targets.
“We’ve already begun talking to our players about how difficult it’s going to be,” Beard said at Big 12 Media Day. “But it’s really no different than anywhere else I’ve ever coached. If you’re going to try to be in the fight, then you have to understand you’re going to have to overcome a lot of adversity."