Texas Longhorns Men’s Basketball: Texas Tech Hires Former Chris Beard Assistant Al Pinkins

The Texas Longhorns played the little brother role to in-state and Big 12 rival Texas Tech this past season, dropping both meetings in the first year on the Forty Acres for former Tech coach Chris Beard.

His former Red Raider lead assistant, Mark Adams, led Texas Tech to a 27-10 record and a Sweet 16 berth in his first year after Beard’s departure. And on Friday, the program announced the hiring of a former Beard assistant to Adams’ staff, as Al Pinkins is set to return to Lubbock.

Table of Contents

Toggle

Chris Beard (left) and Al Pinkins (far right) on the Texas Tech staff

Pinkins, who served on Beard’s Texas Tech staff from 2016 to 2018, has spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach at Florida. He was vital part of the Red Raiders’ run to the title game in 2016. 

Al Pinkins

“I’m excited about the opportunity to have Coach Pinkins return to our staff,” Adams said in the official release. “He is a veteran coach who has done a great job everywhere he’s been. He does an incredible job working with the players to develop their game and is one of the best recruiters in the nation. We are lucky to have Al coming back to Texas Tech.”

Chris Beard

“My family and I are looking forward to returning to the wonderful community and fanbase in Lubbock,” Pinkins said. “Coach Adams embraces the grind of college basketball and everything that comes with it. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with Coach Adams and the rest of the staff. I can’t wait to get going.”