FIU Athletics

Head Coach Butch Davis announced on Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, the addition of Kevin Beard to the FIU football staff. Beard will serve as the Panthers' wide receivers coach.
 
Beard returns to South Florida where he has strong ties both as a coach and former player.   
 
"I'm excited to have Kevin Beard join the FIU coaching staff," Davis said. "I've known Kevin since he was in high school. He is a great person, who is full energy and loves the game. He is a tremendous recruiter and is well known in the South Florida area. He also is driven to be an outstanding coach and has a proven track record as a teacher on the field."
 
Beard comes to FIU after spending the past season with the University of Georgia as offensive quality control (wide receivers). Prior to his stint at Georgia, Beard was the wide receivers coach at the University of Miami in 2015. Before coaching the wide receivers, he was the Hurricanes' assistant director of football operations (2014).
 
Beard played with the Hurricanes from 1999-2003 and was a key member of Miami's 2001 National Championship team. He finished his career with over 900 yards receiving and nine touchdowns. As a player, Beard served as a team captain on the Hurricanes' 2003 squad that finished with an 11-2 record and came away with a 16-14 victory over Florida State in the 2004 Orange Bowl.
 
Following his graduation from Miami with a degree in liberal arts and a minor in sociology in 2003, Beard spent four years playing professionally in the Arena Football League.
 
Following his stint in the AFL, Beard returned to South Florida where he began his coaching and training career, working primarily with 7-on-7 teams and at University High School in Davie, Florida. During his four-year tenure at University High School, Beard coached the wide receivers and helped the Suns to the 2012 3A Florida High School State Championship.