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Texas Tech basketball: Chris Beard nominated for Naismith Coach of the Year

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 13: Head coach Chris Beard and the bench of the Texas Tech Red Raiders react to a made three point shot during the second half of the game against the Oklahoma Sooners on February 13, 2018 at United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma 88-78. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 13: Head coach Chris Beard and the bench of the Texas Tech Red Raiders react to a made three point shot during the second half of the game against the Oklahoma Sooners on February 13, 2018 at United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma 88-78. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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The Texas Tech basketball team has been one of the most pleasant surprises in the nation this year so it is no surprise that head coach Chris Beard has been nominated for national coach of the year.

For the second-straight year, the Texas Tech basketball team has defied expectations to become one of the best teams in the nation.  And just like last season, Chris Beard is being recognized for the unbelievable job he has done in turning the Red Raiders into a legitimate contender.

Wednesday, the third-year head coach was named as one of 15 nominees for Naismith Coach of the Year.  Beard is the only Big 12 coach on the list as his team sits just a half-game benhind league leading Kansas State ahead of tonight’s home game with Oklahoma State.  That after Tech was picked to finish seventh in the Big 12 preseason poll.

What makes the job Beard has done so remarkable is the fact that he has been able to sustain his team’s success despite losing six of last season’s eight top scorers from a team that earned Texas Tech’s first ever trip to the Elite 8.  In losing Keenan Evans, Zhaire Smith, Niem Stevenson, Zach Smith, Tommy Hamilton and Justin Gray, Tech had to replace a combined 53.1 points per game (70% of the team’s scoring).

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What’s more, Tech had to replace 21.6 rebounds and 9.8 assists per game.  But through 27 games, the Red Raiders have identical regular season and Big 12 records as last year’s team, which is widely believed to be the best in school history.

But Beard’s greatness has been evident in areas of the game that do not show up in the box score.  College coaches also have to play the role of talent evaluator, scout and general manager for their programs and perhaps no coach in America has worn all of those hats more effectively.

Beard showed a tremendous ability to identify talent when he targeted graduate transfers Matt Mooney and Tariq Owens as players that would fit well into his scheme.  They have been the two best defenders on the roster this year which has been an essential aspect of this team’s success.  Likewise, two other newcomers, freshman Kyler Edwards and JUCO transfer DeShawn Corprew, are playing key roles off the bench helping to replace the loss of a guy like Niem Stephenson.

On the recruiting front, perhaps an aspect of the game that is as essential as the coaching of X’s and O’s, Beard signed the highest-rated recruiting classes in program history.  Headlined by the No. 30 player in the class, Jahmius Ramsey, Tech’s class is ranked 24th in the nation and there could be more additions to come.

The Red Raiders are among the favorites to land two 4-star guards Damion Baugh and Terrance Shannon, both of whom are expected to announce their decisions soon.  For Beard to bring such blue-chip players to a program that has traditionally had to fish in a different pond than the blue-blood programs is nothing short of remarkable and should be taken into consideration when appraising the job he has done this year.

There are certainly some big names on the list of nominees for coach of the year.  Coaches like Mike Krzyzewski of Duke, Tony Bennett of Virginia (last year’s winner), Tom Izzo of Michigan State and Roy Williams of North Carolina are annual staples on any coach of the year list.

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Meanwhile, guys like Tennessee’s Rick Barnes and Houston’s Kelvin Sampson and Michigan’s John Beilein have been highly-regarded for nearly two decades.  And there are up-and-coming coaches like Steve Wojciechowski from Marquette, Mike Young from Wofford and Nate Oats from Buffalo that are in Beard’s class.  But, when taking into account all aspects of the job and not just what happens in the 40 minutes that the public sees televised, it is hard for anyone to make a stronger case for another coach as coach of the year than Chris Beard.

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