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Chris Beard reportedly hiring former Texas Tech assistant coach to new Ole Miss staff
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Chris Beard is in the process of filling out his first staff at Ole Miss, and he’s reportedly reuniting with someone he knows quite well.
According to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, Beard is once again hiring Al Pinkins as an assistant coach. Pinkins worked on Beard’s staff at Texas Tech from 2016-18. He holds 2 decades of experience as an assistant coach.
Sources: Ole Miss' Chris Beard will hire Al Pinkins as an assistant coach. Pinkins had previously worked with Beard at Texas Tech.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 18, 2023
Ahead of the 2018-19 season, Pinkins left Beard and Tech to join Mike White’s staff at Florida, where he was the associate head coach for four seasons.
The Gators advanced to NCAA Tournaments in 2019 and 2021, along with what would’ve been another before the 2019-20 season ended abruptly. In Gainesville, he worked with the Florida frontcourt and helped back-to-back Gator centers earn All-SEC honors — Kerry Blackshear Jr. in 2019-20 and Colin Castleton in 2020-21.
Ahead of the 2022-23 season, Pinkins left UF to return to Texas Tech and work on Mark Adams’ staff. Adams stepped down as Texas Tech’s men’s basketball coach on March 8.
In addition to his reunion with Beard, this will also mark a return to Oxford for Pinkins, who worked as the program’s recruiting coordinator from 2011-14.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
