With reported interest from Arkansas, Chris Beard expresses commitment to Rebels

OXFORD — With rumors swirling of interest from Arkansas, Ole Miss  head coach Chris Beard made it clear on social media Friday afternoon he is remaining in Oxford. 

“Hotty Toddy,” Beard tweeted. “Great times ahead in Oxford. We are just getting started.”

HOTTY TODDY
Great times ahead in Oxford. We are just getting started. #WinInTheSip#Culture pic.twitter.com/u8rRwmfkSC

— Chris Beard (@CoachBeard) April 5, 2024

After Razorbacks head coach Eric Musselman was tapped as the next head coach at Southern Cal, Beard’s name appeared to be at the top of the Arkansas list of replacements. Beard spent 2015-16 as the head coach of  the Arkansas Little Rock Trojans, finishing 30-5, and still has many ties to the area.

Beard was hired by Ole Miss on March 13, 2023 after five seasons under Kermit Davis where the Rebels went 10-18 overall and 2-3 in league play. 

Ole Miss got off to a hot start under Beard, even finding itself in the AP top 25 rankings for the first time in four years. But things got tough as Ole Miss dropped nine of its final 11 games, finishing 20-12 and 7-11 in SEC play.

Nevertheless, the Rebels had many highs this season, including: 

• One of only three teams in the nation to begin the year 13-0, tying the program record for longest win streak.
• Set a new season attendance record of 142,757, surpassing the previous mark by over 11,000.
• Saw an increase in student attendance by over 135% this past season.
• Shattered the SJB Pavilion attendance record on January 30, defeating Mississippi State 86-82 in front of 10,630 fans, the fifth-largest crowd to ever watch a college basketball game in the state of Mississippi.
• Set a new SJB Pavilion record with 12-straight victories.
• Doubled last year’s win total at home at 14, the most in 11 seasons.
• Signed the second-highest recruit in school history (according to 247Sports) in McDonald’s All-American forward John Bol.
• Had the second-largest increase in wins compared to last season in the SEC, posting 20 victories.
• Picked up wins over five eventual postseason teams during the regular season.

Beard signed a new state contract on March 12, as first reported by the Clarion Ledger. 

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Evelyn Van Pelt

Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn’s love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.