Chris Beard Agrees to Become Next UNLV Basketball Coach

UNLV has reportedly finally found its next head basketball coach after the firing of Dave Rice in January.

Continue for updates. 

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Beard Slated to Become Next UNLV Coach

Sunday, March 27

Arkansas-Little Rock head coach Chris Beard has agreed "in principle" to be the next head coach at UNLV, according to Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 

ESPN's Jeff Goodman added the contract will be for five years. 

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Menzies Drops Out of Running for UNLV Job

Sunday, March 27

New Mexico State coach Marvin Menzies has withdrawn his name from consideration for the UNLV opening, according to Mark Rudi of the Las Cruces Sun-News. According to Anderson, Menzies received an extension to stay at New Mexico State.

Earlier on Sunday, Goodman reported Menzies was a finalist for the position. 

Jeff Borzello of ESPN reported on Saturday that Menzies was in Las Vegas to interview for the position.

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UNLV Exploring Other Avenues After Cronin Decision

Friday, March 25

UNLV expressed interest in the University of Cincinnati's Mick Cronin to fill its vacant head coaching position, but the school will need to look elsewhere after Cronin announced on the Bearcats' athletics website Friday he's staying with the university.  

According to Taylor Bern of the Las Vegas Sun (via the Salt Lake Tribune's Steve Luhm), Saint Mary's head coach Randy Bennett could be an option now for the Runnin' Rebels. 

"We have many outstanding candidates that are interested in this job, some we have already interviewed and others that we will be speaking with in the coming days," UNLV said in a statement, according to Borzello. "We have said all along that our target timeframe to have this search completed by is the Final Four, and we remain on track." 

Rice was with the Runnin' Rebels for four-and-a-half seasons, but they failed to make the NCAA tournament during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 campaigns after qualifying during each of his first two years on the bench.