It was reported early on Monday morning that Texas men’s basketball coach Chris Beard had been arrested for a charge of an alleged “assault on a family or household member in which their breath was impeded.”
As the No. 7 Longhorns prepare to take on the Rice Owls on the basketball court just hours after the arrest, the University is now announcing that Beard will be suspended without pay.
Beard was arrested and booked at 4:18 am CDT after officers were dispatched to the 1900 block of Vista Lane early Monday morning. He was released on bail from Travis County jail Monday afternoon and his attorney has stated that his client “is 100% innocent of these charges.”
“He should never have been arrested,” attorney Perry Minton said via ESPN. “The complainant wants him released immediately and all charges dismissed. It is truly inconceivable.”
Texas had officially acknowledged Beard’s arrest earlier in the morning but had said it was in the information-gathering stage and waiting for the legal process to play out. The University has apparently now seen enough to issue a suspension at this point.
“The University takes matters of interpersonal violence involving members of its community seriously,” Texas said in a statement. “Given the information available, The University has suspended Chris Beard from his position as head coach of Men’s Basketball and will withhold his pay until further notice.”
Assistant coach Rodney Terry will coach the Longhorns in Beard’s absense.
