New head men’s basketball coach Chris Beard told an excited crowd at the United Supermarkets Arena Saturday morning that he finally has his dream job.

“Simply put, it’s great to be home,” Beard said.

Beard was emotional while he acknowledged his family and love for Texas Tech, making fans in attendance confident he’s their guy.

“Excited to have somebody excited about us again and that wants to be here,” Jared Alderson said.

“It gave me goose bumps,” Shelby Nuckolls added. “Just how excited he was and how emotional he got about Tech and his family and wanting to be here so badly.”

Some fans in attendance said at first, they were a little nervous about the coaching news.

“Apprehensive that Tubby was leaving, but obviously with a guy that knows the place and is excited is refreshing,” Don Dale said.

After Beards introduction to the crowd, he took some time to talk to even the youngest Red Raider fans.

“He asked, ‘do I normally get up this early on Saturdays,’ and I said, ‘no.’ He goes, ‘did you do it for me?’ and I said yes,” 10-year-old Jarod Cargill said.

After a bumpy few days, Tech fans said they’re more confident to make some predictions.

“I think someone who can recruit back to Lubbock, who knows the place, who wants to sell it as hard as he seems to want to sell it, sky is the limit,” Dale said.
 
“I see championships in our future, I think Chris Beard’s going to get it done, multiple final fours, let’s do it all,” Alderson said.
 
“I think we will be back in the tournament and I think we’re going to be pretty good,” Cargill said.