Missouri State is losing head coach Ryan Beard after just one season in Conference USA. Beard is leaving for Coastal Carolina following a 7–5 debut that earned the Bears a bowl berth in their first year at the FBS level. He will not coach the team in next week’s Xbox Bowl in Texas.

Thursday night, Missouri State’s Director of Athletics Patrick Ransdell released a statement:

As many of you know, Coach Ryan Beard has decided to take the head coaching position at Coastal Carolina University. We certainly appreciate all he did for our program over the years, and wish him the best of luck. Unfortunately, his agreement with CCU will prevent him from coaching in the bowl game next week, but we will name an interim head coach in short order and have our team ready to play in the XBox Bowl on Dec

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