Crossing paths with Bob Knight launched Chris Beard’s career

Crossing paths with Bob Knight launched Chris Beard’s career

Arkansas Little Rock Trojans head coach Chris Beard yells from the sidelines against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks during the first half of the Sun Belt Conference tournament championship game at Lakefront Arena in New Orleans. (Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports)Soon after Bob Knight was hired as Texas Tech basketball coach in March 2001, he searched for a supporting cast. He needed players, and he had one opening for an assistant coach.

Pat Knight, the son who played for him at Indiana, was already on his staff. Father and son split up to hunt for junior college players, driving through Texas and Oklahoma before planning to meet in…