Central Michigan special teams/safeties coach Ryan Beard named defensive coordinator at Missouri State
Central Michigan has lost its special teams coordinator and safeties coach.
Ryan Beard is headed to Missouri State to become its defensive coordinator. The Bears made the hire official in a press release Saturday.
Beard will join first-year coach Bobby Petrino's coaching staff. Petrino is replacing Dave Steckel, who reached a separation agreement on Jan. 14. The Bears were 1-10 a season ago.
After the announcement, Beard thanked the Central Michigan community via Twitter on Saturday.
The Chippewas were 10-4 in Beard's one year with the program. During his playing days, Beard was a two-time All-Sun Belt Conference defensive back while at Western Kentucky. He began his coaching career with the Hilltoppers as a graduate assistant. He has also spent time at Northern Michigan and Louisville as a defensive backs, linebackers and special teams coach.
Beard is the second coach to depart the Chippewas' coaching staff after former linebackers coach Mark DeBastiani left to become a defensive assistant at Appalachian State.
