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Ole Miss AD Keith Carter confirms Chris Beard retention amid Texas A&M job rumors

by:Alex Byington•04/02/25•

_AlexByington

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Ole Miss athletics director Keith Carter (left) and head basketball coach Chris Beard (right)

Within minutes of Wednesday afternoon’s breaking news that Ole Miss head men’s basketball coach Chris Beard had turned down a lucrative offer from Texas A&M to return for a third season in Oxford, the man that sealed the deal took to social media to gloat.

Rebels athletic director Keith Carter posted a picture of himself and Beard taken shortly after Ole Miss’ second-round NCAA Tournament upset of third-seeded Iowa State on March 23rd with the caption “Why stop now?”

On3’s OM Spirit first reported on the news for their VIP subscribers and On3’s Pete Nakos subsequently confirmed Beard agreed to remain in Oxford after Ole Miss countered the Aggies’ pitch by with a significant boost to both his salary and NIL budget.

Beard just wrapped up his second season in Oxford, which had the Rebels trending in the right direction. Ole Miss made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019 after finishing 24-12 overall and 10-8 against SEC competition.

Results were even better once in the dance. A Sweet Sixteen appearance was historic for them, breaking a drought over two decades long. Ole Miss was right there with Michigan State too, losing by three after leading at different points in the second half. It would have been a first-ever Elite Eight for the Rebels.

With Beard fully on board and extra funds coming his way, the future is bright for Ole Miss basketball. Beard has a proven track record of not just making the NCAA Tournament but also advancing. This year’s run was just the beginning for him. While the SEC is as competitive as ever, Ole Miss will be right there with the rest of the conference.

Texas A&M reportedly gave best efforts for Chris Beard

Ole Miss was able to keep Beard away from Texas A&M but not without a serious push from College Station. TexAgs’ Billy Lucci pointed out how the Aggies were going to give all their effort to lure Beard away. A&M athletic director Trev Alberts needed a big name after Buzz Williams’ departure and Beard would have been the biggest of them all.

“A&M basketball doesn’t scare places typically,” Lucci said on TexAgs Live, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. “… That ties in with everything I’ve heard the last few days. When Jeff Goodman says, ‘Chris Beard will be a target.’ He is the target, in my opinion. For now. Doesn’t mean you’re going to get him. I will say, I think for anyone wondering, I said this before, I said it yesterday and I will say it now, they are going all out.

“If you want to know what commitment to basketball looks like, they’re making a commitment in going after this hire the way they are. If he stays in Oxford, it will be costly for them. And it certainly won’t be for lack of trying.”

— On3’s Griffin McVeigh contributed to this report.