Chris Beard is the new head coach for the Ole Miss Rebels for the 2023–24 season. Beard started his career in 1991 with Texas and coached five different teams before joining the University of Mississippi. His last coached team was Texas Tech from 2021 to 2023. Chris Beard was born on February 18, 1973, and as of January 2024, he is 50 years old.
In his coaching career, Beard has won coaching awards like the 2019 CBS Sports Coach of the Year and the 2018–2019 Big 12 Coach of the Year. He's got a solid track record in NCAA Division I and Division II, including being the 2019 NCAA tournament runner-up during his stint as the head coach at Texas Tech from 2016–21.
Beard was born and raised in Texas. He earned his high school diploma from McCullough High School. Chris Beard then went to kinesiology to earn a Bachelor of Science in 1995. In 1998, while working as a graduate assistant, he completed his Master’s degree at Abilene Christian University. In his three-decade career, Texas Tech fans remember his time there from 2016–2021, when he guided the Red Raiders to the 2019 NCAA tournament's championship game, narrowly missing out on the title against Virginia.
| Real Name | Christopher Michael Beard |
| Nick Name | Chris Beard |
| Net Worth | Estimated $8-10 million |
| Age | 50 years old (February 18, 1973) |
| Height | 6 feet 6 inches (198 cm) |
| Weight | 88 kg. (194 lbs.) |
| Residence | Oxford, Mississippi |
| Education | North High School, University of Pennsylvania |
| Position | Head Coach for Ole Miss Rebels |
| Martial Status | Married (Leslie Beard) |
| Source of Wealth | Basketball Coach |
| Salary | $3.25 million |
| Endorsements | N/A |
| Endorsements Earnings | N/A |
Chris Beard’s Net Worth
Chris Beard’s net worth is estimated to be $8-10 million as of January 2024. Unfortunately, not much information is available about his previous net worth, but according to a few online sources, it was $5 million in the 2021–22 season, and then onwards, it ranges between $8 million and $10 million.
Beard’s main source of wealth is his coaching career, which began as a graduate assistant for the Texas Longhorns in the early 1990s and continues to this day at Ole Miss, with 13 different contracts from 11 institutions, including contract extensions, throughout.
Chris Beard’s Career Earnings
Chris Beard has made $25.73 million in his coaching career as of January 2024. He has made the most of his career earnings by coaching college basketball. Any other source of career earnings is not available in the public domain.
| Year | School | Pos. | Total Pay | School Pay | Other Pay | Max. Bonus | Bonuses Paid (2021-22) | School Buyout as of 4/1/2023 |
| 2023 | Texas | Head | $5,005,000 | $5,005,000 | — | $850,000 | $150,000 | — |
| 2022 | Texas | Head | $5,255,000 | $5,255,000 | — | $850,000 | — | $21,000,000 |
| 2021 | Texas Tech | Head | $4,873,592 | $5,050,000 | $152,300 | — | $45,000 | $15,267,641 |
| 2020 | Texas Tech | Head | $4,443,000 | $4,200,000 | $243,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 | $19,111,155 |
| 2019 | Texas Tech | Head | $2,800,000 | $2,800,000 | $0 | $500,000 | $360,000 | $12,389,015 |
| 2018 | Texas Tech | Head | $1,500,000 | $1,500,000 | $0 | $400,000 | $25,000 | $1,875,000 |
| 2017 | Texas Tech | Head | $1,338,889 | $1,338,889 | $0 | $100,000 | $0 | $0 |
| 2016 | Little Rock | Head | $260,000 | $260,000 | $0 | $126,167 | $0 | $0 |
| 2016 | - | Head | $260,000 | $260,000 | $0 | $126,167 | — | — |
| 2011 | Texas Tech | Assistant | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | — | — |
Chris Beard’s Salary
Chris Beard's salary for the 2024-25 season will be $3.25 million, as per his new contract with the Ole Miss Rebels. Beard will receive a $100,000 yearly raise in pay beginning in 2024–2025.
Chris Beard’s Contract
Chris Beard has agreed to a contract that would pay him $3,250,000 in his first season with the Rebels. His salary in 2023 was ranked ninth in the SEC, according to USA Today.
Beard's salary will increase by $100,000 annually starting in 2024–2025. By law, he cannot sign a contract with the university that lasts more than four years in Mississippi. He has until 2026 to fulfil his state contract.
A $400,000 retention bonus is part of the agreement if Beard is still under contract on May 1, 2026. He would earn $150,000 for winning the SEC regular season and $250,000 for winning the national championship.
Chris Beard Contract Breakdown
| Year | Base-Salary | Signing Bonus | Cap Hit | Dead Cap | Yearly Cash |
| 2023-24 | $3.25 million | - | $3.25 million | $3.25 million | |
| 2024-25 | $3.35 million | - | $3.35 million | $3.35 million | |
| 2025-26 | $3.45 million | - | $3.45 million | $3.45 million | |
| 2026-27 | $3.55 million | $400,000 (retention) | $3.55 million | $3.55 million |
The yearly cash will include bonuses as well, if any.
Chris Beard’s Contract History
Graduate assistant was the first title he held in his initial coaching career for Texas, and then, from 1991 to 1995, he worked in assistant roles for Incarnate Word, Abilene Christian, and North Texas.
As a head coach:
Fort Scott Community (1999-2000)
Seminole State Junior College (2000-2001)
South Carolina Warrrior (2011-2012)
McMurry (2012-2013)
Angelo State (2013-2015)
Little Rock (2015-2016)
Texas Tech (2016-2021)
Texas (2021-2023)
Ole Miss (2023-now)
He also served as an associate head coach at Tech Tech from 2001 to 2011.
Chris Beard Awards and Achievements
On March 13, 2023, he was hired as the 23rd head coach at the University of Mississippi.
Championships
NCAA regional championship game (2019)
Regular-season Big 12 (2019)
Regular Sun Belt season (2016)
Sun Belt competition (2016)
Awards
AP The best coach in the country (2019)
Coach of the Year in CBS Sports (2019)
Coach of the Year for the Big 12 (2018, 2019)
Coach of the Sun Belt (2016)
Coach of the Year in Texas (2015)
FAQ's On Chris Beard Net Worth, Salary and Contract
A. Chris Beard's net worth is estimated to be $10 million as of 2024.
A. In his first season, Chris Beard's salary with Ole Miss is $3.25 million, increasing by $100,000 annually from 2024–2025.
A. Yes, Chris Beard's contract includes bonuses based on attendance, academic progress rate, and performance, with additional incentives for championships.
A. Chris Beard's coaching career started in 1991. He has coached at various institutions, including Texas Tech, and has been with Ole Miss since 2023.
A. Chris Beard's yearly cash in the first year is $3.25 million with Ole Miss, including his base salary and potential bonuses.
A. The contract includes the Academic Progress Rate (APR), performance and other bonuses.
