Report: Texas pursuing David Beaty as an analyst

Following the addition of former North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Larry Fedora as an offensive analyst for the Texas Longhorns, head coach Tom Herman may not be done expanding his support staff, as Horns 247 reported that former Kansas Jayhawks head coach David Beaty is under consideration for a similar role:

In addition to Fedora, Horns247 has learned former Kansas head coach David Beaty could join the Longhorns’ staff as an analyst as well. However, as Horns247 columnist Chip Brown reported last week, Beaty is currently undergoing a contract situation with Kansas that could hold up his availability.

Last November, Beaty was fired at Kansas following four largely disappointing seasons. However, he had signed a contract extension late 2016 after he effectively ended the coaching tenure of Charlie Strong at Texas by beating the Longhorns. As a result of that extension, Kansas now owes Beaty a $3 million buyout that it will make over six payments, but the bigger issues may be the fact that his contract was guaranteed through the 2021 season and the apparent removal of an offset clause.

Beaty and Herman established their relationship when they both worked under David Bailiff at Rice during the 2008 season — Herman as the offensive coordinator and Beaty as the wide receivers coach. Before Texas and Kansas played in November, Herman called Beaty a “good friend” and “helluva coach.”

Speculation about Beaty joining the Longhorns staff increased after news broke that the former Jayhawks head coach was planning a trip to Austin before the Big 12 Championship game to help Texas prepare for the rematch against Oklahoma.

The most obvious fit for Beaty on the staff was one of the 10 assistant positions, but that potential evaporated after Herman reportedly told his assistants that he would retain them for the 2019 season.

Adding Beaty in that role made sense because of his deep ties in the Metroplex, a region that the Horns have had trouble recruiting the last several cycles under Herman. A role as an offensive analyst is less appealing since Beaty is known as more of a recruiter than a brilliant offensive mind.

However, it’s still possible that Beaty could help with on-site recruiting and building relationships with targets, much like Director of Recruiting Bryan Carrington, in addition to any of the typical analyst duties that include scouting and self-scouting.

The first step, though, will be to resolve whatever contract situation currently exists between Beaty and his former employer.