Typically when a head coach leaves a football program, we hear the school is about to conduct a thorough search that may take a while. But at Monday’s introductory press conference for new Bear Head Coach Ryan Beard, we learned things played out a little differently for Missouri State.
“We were without a head football coach for about an hour and a half,” said Missouri State President Clif Smart, to a room full of laughs.
That’s what happened Thursday when they learned head coach Bobby Petrino was leaving to become offensive coordinator at UNLV.
“I don’t know if I could have gotten to you fast enough,” said Beard. “Just, like, ‘I want the job.’ I couldn’t have. I was so excited.”
As the team’s then-defensive coordinator, Beard was their top choice. And becoming head coach of this football team was atop his to-do list. He’s also the man so many of the players wanted. Something they made clear on social media. “It’s awesome,” Beard said when asked how the support from the team made him feel. ”
It’s cool to hear guys you’ve coached in the past and your current players, and everyone else showing you support and showing you love. It makes you feel like things are going in the right direction.”
Beard’s coaching career has been pointed in the right direction since he was a standout defensive back at Western Kentucky. After multiple stops at larger programs, Petrino hired him to run the Bears defense three years ago. That’s when Beard says he was thinking of this moment.
“Right then,” Beard said. “Because he told me about the town. Coach Petrino told me about everything this town has. I still believe what he said. It’s a hidden gem. It’s just something that’s just waiting to explode on the football scene. And there’s no reason we can’t make that happen.”
The Bears saw a resurgence under Beard. Director of Athletics Kyle Moats knew the 33-year-old was ready for this job. “He was a big part of it,” Moats said. “As his staff was. But I thought he was a little bit heads and [shoulders] above everybody else within Bobby’s program. It was Bobby’s program but Ryan certainly had a lot to do with it.”
Beard has yet to name his own replacement as a defensive coordinator. His brother-in-law and Bobby’s son, Nick Petrino, will serve as the team’s offensive coordinator. Which certainly fits with the three-word mantra that coach Beard says he lives by. Faith, family, and football, in that order.
