Ole Miss Faces Texas Amid Controversy Over Coach Chris Beard’s Past

OXFORD, Miss. — The No. 23 Ole Miss Rebels will face Texas on Wednesday night in a high-stakes basketball game at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion, but the matchup is overshadowed by the controversial hiring of head coach Chris Beard, who was fired by Texas in 2022 following a domestic violence arrest.

Ole Miss, holding a 71-percent win probability and favored by 6.5 points on FanDuel, enters the game with a 12th-ranked defense in adjusted efficiency. The Rebels have struggled recently, losing three straight conference games, including an overtime defeat to Mississippi State. Texas, meanwhile, is riding momentum from a 22-point comeback against Texas A&M, led by freshman guard Tre Johnson, who scored a career-high 30 points.

The game marks the first meeting between Texas and Beard since his dismissal 755 days ago. Beard was arrested in December 2022 after his fiancée, Randi Trew, accused him of choking, biting, and throwing her during an altercation. Although charges were later dropped, Texas fired Beard for “unacceptable behavior” that made him “unfit to serve as head coach.”

At his introductory press conference at Ole Miss, Beard addressed the incident cautiously. “Respectfully, Randi and I have agreed not to talk about the details of what happened,” he said. “Much of what was reported is not accurate, and that has been proven with the case being dismissed.” However, Trew’s initial statements to police, which described Beard as “super violent,” remain a point of contention.

Domestic violence experts emphasize the seriousness of strangulation, which is a strong predictor of future homicide. According to studies, 43 percent of homicide victims killed by an intimate partner had previously experienced non-fatal strangulation. Beard’s hiring by Ole Miss has drawn criticism, with many questioning the university’s decision to employ a coach with such a troubling history.

On the court, Ole Miss boasts a balanced scoring attack, led by Virginia Tech transfer Sean Pedulla, who averages 14.3 points per game. Texas, meanwhile, will rely on Johnson, who earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors after his standout performance against Texas A&M.

Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. Central on ESPN2, with the game serving as a stark reminder of the moral complexities surrounding Beard’s return to coaching.