MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Boyd, McCaughn, Suber, Sparks, DeLano, Jackson, Chassaniol, Hickman, Michel, Whaley, Parks, Hopson
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING OLE MISS BASKETBALL COACH CHRIS BEARD FOR WINNING THE 2025 JIM PHELAN NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD.
WHEREAS, we join Ole Miss basketball fans in honoring Coach Chris Beard for receiving the National Coach of the Year Award and for coaching his team to an outstanding regular and tournament season; and
WHEREAS, Ole Miss Basketball Coach Chris Beard was named the 2025 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year on March 31, 2025; and
WHEREAS, this honor comes after the Rebels finished 24-12 and made it to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 6 seed. They beat No. 11 North Carolina and No. 3 Iowa State to make it to the Sweet 16, tying the deepest run in Ole Miss history. No. 2 Michigan State beat the Rebels 73-70 in Atlanta, ending the run; and
WHEREAS, Coach Beard just finished his second year as Head Coach at Ole Miss. He led the Rebels to a 20-12 record last season and has added to his reputation as a proficient program builder; and
WHEREAS, Coach Beard was appointed Head Coach on March 13, 2023, and is recognized as a four-time Conference Coach of the Year and the 2019 National Coach of the Year. Before joining Ole Miss, Beard had successful coaching stints at Texas Tech, Texas, and other institutions; and
WHEREAS, Ole Miss' 2025 March Madness run ended after reaching the Sweet 16 for the second time in program history, and it is with great pride that we recognize a Mississippi university coach who has brought positive recognition to his university, his community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Ole Miss Basketball Coach Chris Beard for winning the 2025 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award, and extend the best wishes of the Mississippi Senate to Coach Beard and his team for future successes.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Chris Beard, forwarded to Ole Miss Chancellor Glen Boyce and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.