Report: Beard expected to sign 6-year deal with Ole Miss

Chris Beard is expected to sign a new six-year deal to remain the head coach at Ole Miss, sources told The Field of 68's Jeff Goodman.

Beard was connected to the job opening at Texas A&M following Buzz Williams' departure for Maryland but chose to remain in Oxford, per Goodman.

The 52-year-old is set to receive a raise, more resources for staff, and a stronger NIL package with his new deal, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel and Jeff Borzello.

Beard was the bench boss at Ole Miss over the last two seasons and led the Rebels to a 44-24 record across that time. He guided them to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament this season after they missed the tourney in 2024.

Beard coached at McMurry, Angelo State, Little Rock, Texas Tech, and Texas before joining the Rebels in 2023. He went to five NCAA Division I Tournaments with those programs and was a runner-up in 2019 with the Red Raiders.

Beard has won at least one game in all six of his March Madness appearances and has won numerous awards throughout his career, including Lone Star Coach of the Year (2015), Sun Belt Coach of the Year (2016), Big 12 Coach of the Year (2018, 2019), and AP National Coach of the Year (2019).