Kyle Beard is in his second season coaching the Chaps soccer program.  Lubbock Christian went 10-5-2 in their inaugural season last year and went 4-5-1 in conference play, just missing a berth to the SAC Tournament.  They went 6-0-1 against non-conference opponents and went 2-0-1 against NCAA opponents.  A 1-0 victory over Eastern New Mexico University, who was ranked as high as No.17, served as their marquee win of the season.

Beard comes to LCU after serving as a foreign vocational missionary in Rwanda (Africa) in a partnership with South Plains Church of Christ.  While working in Rwanda, Beard also served in the soccer community as the head coach of the Rwanda women's national team (2006-2008) and the men's national futsal development team (2008-2009).  He helped lead the women's national select team to a Kigali Centennial Cup championship title in 2007 and to a CECAFA Cup Qualifier.  Beard also served as an assistant advisor coach for the Rwanda men's U-20 and U-17 national team (2007-2009).  His coaching also led to the development of university programs in Rwanda and a partnership program with the German Football Federation, which provided a professional level of training and fitness to Rwandan coaches for youth and college player development.  Beard also competed with the Muzungu United division II men's team in Rwanda. 

The Tyler, Texas native began playing soccer in at the age of four and has continued to learn and grow with the game ever since. Before attending Lubbock Christian University, Beard played semi professional indoor and outdoor soccer in Tyler and also in Lubbock.  He graduated LCU in 2000, and during his time at LCU, he helped pioneer a intercollegiate club-level soccer program.  The LCU club program qualified for the NIRSA (National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association) playoffs while Beard participated with the squad from 1997-2000.  Beard coached at the high school level out of college and received several accolades, including three state titles, and five state tournament appearances including the TAPPS Tennis Coach of the Year honor in 2004, and a Nomination for Gatorade Soccer Coach of the year in 2004. He then went on to coach Semi professional indoor and outdoor soccer before moving to Africa to coach. 

Beard has also served time in the United States Army as a combat engineer before suffering an injury in AIT training and was released on honorable conditions. Kyle is married to Luz, a 2000 LCU graduate, and are blessed with their son Koen (8) and daughter Heaven (5).