Introducing Ryan Beard:

Ryan Beard was officially hired as the new head football coach at Missouri State University on December 19, 2022, after three seasons as the Bears’ defensive coordinator under former head coach Bobby Petrino. At the time of his hire, Beard (34) was the program’s youngest coach on record and was the 22nd person to be named the Bears’ head football coach.  After a 4-7 overall record and 3-5 record in conference play during Coach Beard’s first season, the Bears took a big step forward under his leadership in 2024, finishing with an 8-4 overall record, a 6-2 conference record, and the first eight-game winning streak at the Division I level in program history. Coach Beard previously spent time in assistant coaching roles at Western Kentucky, Louisville, and Central Michigan after his playing career as a defensive back at Western Kentucky, which included two All-Sun Belt Conference selections. Coach Beard is a native of Bowling Green, Kentucky, where he was a four-year letterwinner at Bowling Green High School. He is married to the former Katie Petrino. The couple have four children with son Beau and daughter Lainey, in addition to twins Jacob and Kailey born in the spring of 2022.

Joshua 1.9: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”