CONWAY, S.C. – Coastal Carolina University has named Ryan Beard as the Chanticleers’ new head football coach, Vice president for Intercollegiate Athletics and University Recreation Chance Miller announced Thursday. Beard, who becomes the fifth head coach in program history, arrives in Conway following a highly accomplished run at Missouri State University. During his tenure, he led the Bears through one of the most notable multi-year climbs in recent history, highlighted by a winning record at the FBS level in 2025.
“We landed one of the nation’s best young coaches to be the head coach of our football team,” said Miller. “Teal Nation will love Ryan Beard’s energy, work ethic, and passion, and he is the perfect leader for this program. His track record of elevating teams,maximizing talent,and developing student-athletes speaks for itself. Everywhere he has been – from western Kentucky, Louisville, and Central Michigan to leading Missouri State through a successful FBS transition – Coach Beard has shown an remarkable ability to inspire, transform, and win. His trajectory in this profession is remarkable, and we believe his best years are still ahead of him. We are thrilled to welcome Coach Beard, his wife Katie, and their children Beau, Lainey, Jacob and kailey to Coastal Carolina.”
Beard was introduced as Missouri State’s head coach on Dec. 19, 2022, when he was just 33 years old, making him the youngest head coach in program history and the 22nd to lead the Bears. His promotion followed three seasons as the team’s defensive coordinator under Bobby Petrino – widely regarded as one of the top minds in college football. Beard’s defensive units played a critical role in Missouri State’s resurgence, helping the program reach consecutive FCS playoff appearances in 2020 and 2021, the school’s first postseason berths in 30 years. His defenses also produced four All-Americans, 18 all-conference standouts, and three NFL players.
In 2025, Beard guided Missouri state to a 7-5 record in its inaugural FBS season, earning a berth in the Xbox Bowl – the program’s first bowl appearance – where they will face sun Belt foe Arkansas State. The Bears finished second in Conference USA in both total defense and rushing defense and posted a perfect 5-0 mark in games where they held opponents under 300 total yards. Beard’s debut at the FBS level produced immediate results, fueled by a disciplined, physical defensive identity and strong player advancement. Eight Bears earned Conference USA postseason honors, further underscoring the program’s growth. Missouri State’s seamless transition to FBS competition was widely credited to Beard’s leadership, which delivered stability, elevated performance standards, and a clear trajectory for long-term success.
That success was built on a standout 2024 season, when Missouri State finished 8-4, ranked No. 23 nationally in the FCS, and delivered one of the nation’s most explosive offensive performances. The Bears ranked in the top 20 nationally in passing offense, total offense, and scoring. Defensively, Missouri State was a force, leading the missouri Valley Football Conference in sacks per game (2.6) and ranking among the nation’s leaders in turnovers and takeaways. They also finished top 25 nationally in defensive scoring, takeaways and turnover margin. That year’s squad produced 12 all-conference selections and three All-Americans.
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