From my research it took Coach K, 6 years to reach his first Final Four with Duke. Wooden started with UCLA in 1948 and his first Final Four was in 1962.

It took Chris Beard only 3 years with Tech to make his first Final Four

Is there any big name that I am overlooking that has had the type of success Coach Beard has had at Tech in such a short period of time?

Yes, Billy Gillispie. He took the bait, went to Kentucky, and got his arse handed to him.

I hope Beard wants to stay in Lubbock.

Chris Beard will be gone. Just like VT coach.

I should have clarified... to reach a Final Four in such a short period of time.

Gillispie, I think, only reached the Sweet 16 and never made a Final Four or did he and I over looked it?

Given the fact that Tadlock (Baseball HC) has taken Tech to 3 of the last 5 College World Series, he and Beard have proven that you can build a high quality program, and get high quality recruits, to Lubbock, TX. I always heard that could never be done, which is one of football's excuses, but that is all nonsense. Just takes the right guy to be in charge. Beard should be the national coach of the year, no contest.

Have you read the history of Beard and Mark Adams? You very well maybe correct, but those two have extremely deep small town west Texas roots. I think it also helps that he plays an 'ugly' brand of basketball that doesn't exactly appeal to high profile schools and the national media.

Roy Williams left Kansas for UNC, I hope he wants to stay at Tech for the long term, but we don’t know what is going on between his agent and other schools.

Roy is also an UNC alum and Dean Smith was his mentor which make sense.

Beard had his longest tenure under Bob Knight at Tech. Adams is a TTU alum and is family still lives 30 miles from campus. Beard also referred to Tech as 'mama calling you back home' the say way Bear Bryant talked about Alabama.

Of course this is all wishful thinking from a Red Raider.

Beard also went to Texas, as you know coaches say a lot until something new gets tossed in their face.

The VT coach was from Texas originally, all he did was come back home to an easier conference and a lot more money.


I don't necessarily expect Beard to stay but most of you off-the-cuff types don't have all the facts. Number one, he is already paid top 10 money, and that will likely get a bump this year to the top 5. Two, we're building a brand-new state-of-the-art bball training facility which Beard has had tons of input into designing. It will be ready in 2020. He's already getting top 20 classes to Lubbock, given his success and the facility upgrades, he can likely start pulling top 10. His style will not necessarily translate well at other programs where kids have ideas about pouring in 20 a night while not playing defense on their way to the NBA. There are also family issues that come into play with staying in Lubbock.

Now, if KU, Duke, or UNC comes calling I'd certainly give them the advantage. But I seriously doubt he's leaving for a non-blueblood. However, he's also the type to make a decision, right or wrong, and make it right by selling out to make it happen. So he could certainly bolt and give 110% at the next spot even if we're all scratching our head about it.

No, you're right.

Imagine if Zhaire Smith would have stayed. Instead, he's a 19 year old in the NBA G league. Oops.

In just his 3rd year, Brad Stevens took Butler to the National Championship game. They lost that game to Duke when Gordon Hayward missed a shot at the buzzer that would have won it. Just for good measure, Stevens took Butler back the National Championship game again the next year in 2011. Didn't take long for the Celtics to make him an offer to switch to the NBA.

IMO if Beard leaves it's for the NBA and not another college program.

Watched the basketball some this year, I am not an alum or a casual fan, but I do support any team or teams that are from Texas or made up of primarily Texas bred kids. Recruiting to Lubbock is difficult and pointing out a few isolated successes doesn't change that. Especially baseball which consist mainly of middle class white kids. We will see how basketball goes but those rosters are really small compared to football and the number of kids it takes to compete at that level. 1 or 2 kids can change a basketball program for the short term where football needs many more.

I like the school and campus and wish 20 years ago I would have given it more consideration but a few things really standout. West Texas isn't for everyone and it isn't easy to get there. Reliable transportation is a must.

Beard to Ark. Waiting for the end of tourney then he will have to tell them no a couple of times before moving on.

I know a lot of coaches would leave, but I think Beard stays at Tech, at least for a few years, for the following reasons:

1) Tech will be making him the 2nd highest paid coach in the Big XII behind Bill Self at KU
2) Great facilities, especially compared to the rest of the Big XII, although UT is about to get a nice upgrade
3) He has the best recruiting class in Tech history coming in
4) his 3 daughters live in the area with his ex-wife.

I'm rooting for Tech in the tournament and always want the Big 12 to do well. Obviously nobody knows what his decision would be, but if a Power 5 conference state flagship school offered him more money, I don't know why he wouldn't consider it. Tech is at best 3rd in the pecking order behind Texas and A&M. Even if it weren't at a traditional blue blood basketball school, would he pass up the opportunity to be at a flagship school where there are often clear advantages over what Tech and Lubbock have to offer.

He may stay in Lubbock.
I thought Texas would throw a bunch of money at him, but I realized Shaka Smarts contract is guaranteed for 5 years.
They won’t do that.
UCLA may throw a ton of money at him, but it’s California.
3 million in Lubbock is like 20 in California.

Apparently Shaka is on the short list for the UCLA job. He turned it down when he was at VCU, but he may take it this time. Would probably be a good thing for him and UT.

They said TCU coach was close to signing with UCLA.

What UCLA offered Callipari was a joke, who wants to leave a blue blood program that is already built for less money in a more expensive state to have to build it back up.

I read that as well. If they offered him enough $, I bet he might go, but Jamie Dixon is a TCU boy and left a better basketball school to come home. UCLA definitely has the basketball tradition and would be a great job, but they aren't known for throwing big bucks at coaches. TCU was already paying him what Alford was getting at UCLA and 2.6 mil goes a lot farther in FW than LA. I would think they would have to offer in the 4 million range to get him.

Beard is going to TEXAS

No, I haven’t either but money talks.

Always has

I thought so too, until I saw Shaka’s buyout. Not gonna happen.