Texas Tech hires Chris Beard as new coach

— -- Chris Beard, who secured the head-coaching job at UNLV less than a week ago, was hired to a five-year deal by Texas Tech on Friday, sources told ESPN's Jeff Goodman.

Beard led Arkansas-Little Rock to the NCAA tournament and a first-round upset of Purdue this past season in his first year as a Division I head coach. He agreed with UNLV on March 28 to a five-year deal worth $900,000 per season but had to wait 11 days before the school's board of regents ratified his contract.

UNLV athletic director Tina Kunzer-Murphy said Thursday that she was contacted by Texas Tech officials seeking permission to interview Beard.

"Coach Beard has informed me he intends to pursue the men's basketball head coaching job at Texas Tech," Kunzer-Murphy said Friday in a statement. "This unprecedented move is extremely disappointing to the President and I, for our program and to our fans. Our search process allowed us to develop a deep pool of qualified candidates, from which we will select a great coach who really wants to be here and who will honor his commitments in leading the Runnin' Rebels."

Beard, who has three daughters who live two hours from Lubbock, Texas, was an assistant coach at Texas Tech for 10 seasons under Bob Knight and Pat Knight.

Tubby Smith left as Texas Tech's coach to accept the job at Memphis on Thursday morning.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.