4:50 P.M. UPDATE:
Chris Beard's weekend-long discussions with UNLV were finally acknowledged on Monday.
First, by UALR, when it announced its men's basketball coach of one season had stepped down to take the Runnin' Rebels vacant position. UNLV did so later, when it announced Beard had agreed in principle for a job that came open in January.
[IN PHOTOS: Chris Beard's year leading UALR basketball]
Beard's exit came after he led UALR to a 30-5 record in his only season, which included Sun Belt Conference regular-season and tournament titles and a victory over Purdue in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
He'll take over a UNLV program that went 18-15 this season, hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament since 2013 and hasn't won a game in the tournament since 2008.
"As we looked at a number of outstanding coaches who expressed interest in the position, it became increasingly clear that one of the key factors for success is previous experience as a college basketball head coach," UNLV Athletic Director Tina Kunzer-Murphy said in a statement. "In this environment, with the expectations and pressures that come with being head coach of the Runnin' Rebels, previous experience leading a NCAA program is a critical factor."
UALR Athletic Director Chasse Conque said Beard's departure came after the two met last week to discuss adjustment to a four-year contract that paid Beard a base salary of $230,000. But UNLV reached out to Beard on Thursday, Conque said, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported he interviewed in Las Vegas on Saturday and Beard told Conque on Sunday night his intentions to take the job.
"It's a compliment when other people come calling, and when other people show interest in your coaches," Conque said Monday. "I think ti sends a clear signal that we're doing something right and we have a good product and a good program in place."
Beard couldn't be reached for comment Monday, but Conque said he addressed the team at about 9:30 a.m. Monday. Beard, who was hired last April 8 from Division II Angelo State, is set to get a significant pay increase. His salary at UNLV is not known, but Dave Rice, whom UNLV fired in January, was making a base salary of $750,000, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
"We put together what I felt was a really competitive, good package for he and his staff and the program," Conque said. "But, when someone like UNLV comes calling, it was obviously something that he had to listen to."
Conque said he doesn't yet have a timeline for a new hire. He hired Beard last April 8, three weeks after firing Steve Shields, but this process could go quicker. He said he doesn't plan to travel to Houston for the Final Four, instead would like to bring candidates to campus like he did last season.
"This is a really good job," Conque said. "It's even better than it was a year ago and it will continue to be a good job."
Read Tuesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
— Troy Schulte
EARLIER:
University of Arkansas-Little Rock men's basketball coach Chris Beard, who coached the Trojans to a 30-5 record in his first season, announced he will leave the team and accept the head coaching job at UNLV.
The university announced Beard's decision to step down in a news release Monday after multiple sources reported Sunday night that Beard had agreed in principle to a contract with the school in Las Vegas.
“We are appreciative of Coach Beard and his team’s incredible list of accomplishments this season,” UALR Director of Athletics Chasse Conque said in the release. “While Chris spent just one season in Little Rock, our program is better for his service to the University. We wish Coach Beard nothing but the best at Nevada-Las Vegas.”
The team's season included a Sun Belt Conference championship and upset win over fifth-seeded Purdue in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
UNLV won the NCAA national championship in 1990.
— John Moritz