Texas Tech coach takes long road to Sweet 16

BOSTON — As the students at Texas Tech soaked up an 88-degree day back at campus, the Red Raiders arrived at TD Garden, surrounded by falling snow.

But where else would they rather be?

“I don’t want to waste a minute of this,” second-year Texas Tech coach Chris Beard said. “I can’t speak for these teams that we’re sharing this regional with, I mean, they’ve been here so many times. But for us, it’s like we’re just embracing it. … We just don’t want it to end.”

Third-seeded Texas Tech (26-9), which was picked to finish seventh in the Big 12 preseason poll, will face second-seeded Purdue (30-6) on Friday night in its first Sweet 16 game in 13 years, looking for its first appearance in the Elite Eight.

Beard, 45, has led the Red Raiders to their most wins in 22 years, and was named Big 12 co-Coach of the Year, earning a six-year contract extension this month.

The success isn’t shocking. The stability is.

After being an assistant at four different schools, Beard got his first head-coaching opportunity at Fort Scott Community College. After one season, he went to Seminole State Community College. After one season there, he spent 10 years as an assistant at Texas Tech, under Bobby Knight, and Pat Knight, before getting fired and taking a job with the nowdefunct South Carolina Warriors of the ABA.

Then came one season at Division II McMurry. Next was two seasons at Division II Angelo State.

In 2015, he took over at Arkansas Little-Rock, and led the No. 12 Trojans to a first-round upset of Matt Painter and Purdue.

Beard then signed a five-year contract with UNLV, and left after 19 days to become the head coach at Texas Tech, where his two daughters — who sat beside him at Thursday’s press conference — were born.

“It’s like when Bear Bryant left Texas A&M for Alabama,” Beard said upon being hired. “He said, ‘When Momma calls, you’ve gotta go home.’ Texas Tech is my momma, and I’m home. I’m so glad to be here.” He’s even happier in Boston. “This is special. I haven’t been able to sleep for a lot of reasons — Purdue, Coach Painter, but also just having so much fun. … I’m just enjoying the ride, and I can’t state that enough, just how excited I am for one more day.”