Texas men's basketball coach Chris Beard was arrested early Monday on a felony family violence charge after a woman told police he strangled and bit her.
Beard was immediately suspended by the school without pay "until further notice." Associate head coach Rodney Terry will serve as acting head coach, according to ESPN.
Beard led Texas Tech to the 2019 NCAA championship game and was then hired by the Longhorns.
Specifically, Beard has been charged with assault on a family or household member in which breath was impeded. The charge is a third-degree felony, with a possible punishment of up to 10 years in prison.
The woman who was assaulted told police she was Beard's fiancé. She said they had an argument during which she broke a glass before Beard "just snapped on me and became super violent."
According to an affidavit, the woman told police, "He choked me, bit me, bruises all over my leg, throwing me around and going nuts."
Beard told police he had audio recordings of the incident that would show he was not the primary aggressor, but he refused to share them with officers.
At a bond hearing, Beard was told he could communicated with the woman but not in a threatening manner. He was ordered to stay 200 yards away from the residence and is barred from possessing a firearm.
Beard's attorney Perry Minton told the American-Statesman his client should never have been arrested.
"The complainant wants him released immediately and all charges dismissed. It is truly inconceivable," Minton said.
In a statement announcing Beard's suspension the school said, "The university takes matters of interpersonal violence involving members of its community seriously."
