Texas Tech Basketball: Names to watch to replace Chris Beard

Who could Texas Tech turn to now that Chris Beard has jumped ship?

The flirtation between Chris Beard and the University of Texas was dragging on for days, and we finally have our back-stabbing, gut-wrenching conclusion. Texas Tech will be searching for a new head basketball coach after Beard decided to move to Austin and take over his alma mater. It’s certainly a difficult day for all the Red Raider faithful.

In all honesty, I’m having difficulty processing how I feel about this. There may never be a coach who’ll be as perfect a fit in Lubbock as Beard was, and the level of success he had here was unprecedented. The Texas Tech job is much more attractive than it was when he arrived. The fans are some of the most rabid and engaged in the country and the facilities are on par with the best in the nation.

But of all the places for Beard to jump to, did it have to be Texas? I could stomach him leaving for North Carolina, but why our most hated rival? I understand it’s his alma mater, and that’s likely what made the difference when everything else made it look like a lateral move at best. But the smug Longhorn fans are never going to let us forget this, and we’ll have to face him twice a year.

As our own Matthew Conner wrote, a lot is riding on Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt’s success here. Now that he’s lost his biggest ace, he desperately needs to make the right hire, as he might not survive another misfire. This is a highly attractive job, so he should be able to get the guy he wants. With that in mind, here are some names to keep an eye on.

One name you won’t see on this list is Rick Pitino, and there’s a reason for that. Pitino would win, for sure, but his baggage probably makes Hocutt stay away. The Billy Gillispie hire blew up in Hocutt’s face, and even though Texas Tech did fine with Bobby Knight, I really don’t think he wants to take that kind of risk at this point.

Joe Golding – Abilene Christian Head Coach

If Hocutt wants to go with the conventional approach (plucking a successful mid-major coach away), Golding is a logical fit. He’s already demonstrated an ability to win in West Texas, and his teams’ tendencies to play strong defense and force turnovers would surely fit well with what Beard has already established.

His overall record at ACU isn’t eye popping, but that’s because he pretty much built that program from the ground up and saw it through a transition back into Division I. His past three seasons have been plenty successful, and he’s been to the last two NCAA tournaments. His team also knocked off Texas this year and effectively ended Shaka Smart’s tenure, so he has that going for him.

Grant McCasland – North Texas Head Coach

The former Baylor point guard has had a nice run in Denton, culminating in an NCAA tournament win this year. He spent several years on Scott Drew’s staff in Waco and has some ties to the Texas Tech program, having served as director of operations while earning his Master’s degree. His wife also played soccer for the Red Raiders.

McCasland has also had something of a circuitous route to where he is, and he’s won everywhere he’s gone. If you’re looking to try and find the next Beard, this is as good a candidate as any to take a chance on. He’ll have the Texas ties, the background and the coaching ability. Fans should be happy if this is the way Hocutt goes.

John Beilein – Former Michigan Coach

This isn’t a long term hire, to be sure, as Beilein just turned 68. He’s also never coached anywhere near this region, so he would probably have to assemble a staff that would help him effectively recruit Texas. But how many coaches are available with this kind of resume? Plus, since he’s currently unemployed, there’s no buyout to pay.

He flamed out in the NBA but he’s been a winner everywhere he’s coached in college, including leading Michigan to two national championship game appearances. If he’s reenergized and ready to commit to coaching another five to eight years or so, he might be in the best position to keep the Texas Tech program winning at a high level.

Mark Adams – Texas Tech Assistant Coach

If it’s continuity you want, promoting Adams would provide that. Beard credited him as being one of the main reasons why his Texas Tech teams were so good defensively, so this would at least help keep that intact. He also has a wealth of head coaching experience and has won everywhere he’s been.

The problem is none of his head coaching experience has come at the Division I level. Adams is well liked in Lubbock, but this is far from a sure thing and wouldn’t necessarily be a big time, home run hire. Can he keep recruiting and winning at a high level? Maybe, but there’s certainly risk involved here.

Darvin Ham – Milwaukee Bucks Assistant Coach

This is another risky but intriguing possibility. Ham is well known to the Red Raider faithful from his days as a player here for James Dickey in the 1990s, and he’s been an assistant coach at the NBA level since 2011. We know Hocutt has an affinity for hiring coaches with Texas Tech ties, which is why you at least have to consider it.

But again, there’s risk. Ham has never coached at the college level, and while that didn’t matter for Juwan Howard at Michigan, it’s still a risk. And Hocutt knows too well that hiring Texas Tech alumni doesn’t always work out (see Kliff Kingsbury and Candace Whitaker). If there’s any mutual interest, a lot will depend on Ham doing well in interviews and hiring the right staff.

What we also know is that Hocutt may already have his top target in mind. No one would have had Matt Wells on their radar before his name emerged as a candidate, so we could all very well be surprised. But regardless, this could turn out to be the biggest make or break moment of Hocutt’s tenure in Lubbock.