‘We ain’t done yet’: Texas Tech coach Mark Adams was complimentary of the exiting Chris Beard, even when the crowd wasn’t

Mark Adams said all the right things as he was introduced as Texas Tech men’s basketball coach Tuesday.

Well, almost all the right things.

Adams was greeted with a chorus of boos at United Supermarkets Arena when he thanked predecessor Chris Beard, who exited last week for Texas and immediately became Public Enemy No. 1 in Lubbock.

“Well, this group, they turn on you pretty quick,” said a deadpan Adams, drawing some laughs. “I wouldn’t be here without Coach Beard. I appreciate his giving me an opportunity to coach with him. It’s been a great ride for six years. We’ve helped build this thing.

“He was the leader, and he’s done a lot for Texas Tech and he’s a friend of mine.”

Much of what essentially became a pep rally — media were not allowed to ask questions — was about moving on from the Beard era, and how Tech will be just fine.

“We are an emerging giant in the college basketball world, and we’re not going anywhere but forward,” athletic director Kirby Hocutt said.

Tech President Lawrence Schovanec called Adams the most popular and most obvious candidate to replace Beard.

Certainly, he doesn’t need any introduction to the current players or the fan base.

Adams was essentially Beard’s defensive coordinator, responsible for the system that helped Tech reach the national championship game in 2019 and the Elite Eight in 2018.

Already, guard Kevin McCullar has indicated he’s staying at Tech and guard Kyler Edwards has withdrawn his name from the transfer portal.

At 64, Adams’ head coaching career has been pretty much all West Texas. The Brownfield native has had stops at Clarendon College, Wayland Baptist, West Texas A&M, Texas Pan-American and Howard College, where he won a national junior college title.

Now he gets his shot at the Big 12 level with Tech fans expecting NCAA Tournament appearances.

“Guys, we’re going to build something great here,” a frequently emotional Adams said. “We ain’t done yet. We ain’t done yet.”

The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported that while contract details are still being finalized, Adams is expected to make between $1.8 million to $1.9 million next season.

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