Skip to main content
ole-miss logo

Chris Beard's relationship with Ole Miss AD Keith Carter has a 'new dynamic' from previous jobs

11by:Jake Thompson•about 12 hours•

JakeThompsonOn3

FzFW2vmaMAAoVcX
Ole Miss athletics director Keith Carter and head basketball coach Chris Beard

Ole Miss athletics director Keith Carter knew he had to make a home run hire when replacing Kermit Davis as the men’s basketball head coach following the 2022-23 season. An opportunity presented itself in the form of Chris Beard.

Beard, who was the head coach at Texas before he was fired weeks after he received a third-degree felony charge following a domestic incident. Those charges were subsequently dropped and Carter hired Beard to take over the Ole Miss program.

Entering year two of the Beard era that hire is looking like the home run Carter wanted and needed, pairing with the hire of Lane Kiffin as the Ole Miss football head coach.

Both programs are on the rise with Beard having the 21st-ranked Rebels tied with No. 1 Auburn atop the Southeastern Conference standings following the win over No. 4 Alabama on Tuesday. Beard is also trying to lead Ole Miss back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019.

All of these accomplishments are due to Carter bringing Beard to Oxford. During his appearance on Thursday’s episode of ‘Wake Up Mintzy’ with Barstool’s Ben Mintz, Beard elaborated on how his relationship with Carter has evolved over the last two years since his hiring.

“Keith’s big time. From my perspective it’s pretty cool to work for an athletic director that played college basketball at the school we’re at, Ole Miss,” Beard said. “Not only did he play he was an all-conference, All-American player that impacted winning. It brings a new dynamic to the relationship. I’ve had some really good ADs in the past, period, but Keith’s just different. Different in a good way.

“In the past your team could mess up and maybe make a coaching mistake, player mistake late in the game. You’re walking to the press conference with the AD and just blame it on the refs or something because maybe that AD is not a basketball guy. But with Keith he knows it, he’s sees it. I’ve had some real basketball conversations in our year and a half together, as well.”

Beard is seeing the investment being made into the Ole Miss program led by Carter.

Through the Grove Collective the NIL aspect has ticked up for the Rebels, allowing Beard to have success in the transfer portal.

Additions of Sean Pedulla and Malik Dia have already shown a return of investment with their play through the first four SEC games. Dia has taken over periods of the last three, including his second-half play against the Crimson Tide on Tuesday.

Along with that Beard acknowledges the efforts Carter has made in helping the basketball program grow. A program that means the most to him, personally, of the big three sports at Ole Miss.

“Keith is all Ole Miss. He bleeds the blue and red,” Beard added. “He’s a one-school guy. It’s just awesome working for somebody who has passion for the institution and the basketball program.”

You may also like