The University of Texas at Austin has fired Texas basketball coach Chris Beard weeks after he was charged with a third-degree felony for family violence, university officials said Thursday.

โ€œThe University of Texas has parted ways with Chris Beard,โ€ Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte said in a statement. โ€œThis has been a difficult situation that we’ve been diligently working through.โ€

Beard was arrested on Dec. 12ย for allegedly strangling his fiancee after Austin police responded to a 911 call at a Tarrytown home.

Following the arrest, UT-Austin suspended Beard and withheld his pay. Beard was in his second season of a seven-year contract with Texas that paid around $5 million annually. He was one of the universityโ€™s highest-paid employees.

Associate Head Coach Rodney Terry will remain acting head coach for the rest of the Longhorn season.

โ€œWe thank Coach Rodney Terry for his exemplary leadership both on and off the court at a time when our team needed it most,โ€ Del Conte said.

Beardโ€™s lawyer, Perry Minton, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This article was written by KATE MCGEE ofย The Texas Tribune. ย The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans โ€” and engages with them โ€“ about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. ย This article originally appeared at: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/01/05/ut-fired-chris-beard-basketball/