Kyle Beard is entering his 8th season as head coach of the men’s soccer program.
Coach Beard has led Faulkner to break every record in the history of the men’s soccer program, starting with coaching the team to its first winning season in program history which followed with 4 consecutive playoff appearances and 2 semifinal appearances in the SSAC tournament. Year after year, Beard’s program has climbed to new levels receiving its first All-American in Jarom Farnsworth in 2016 and reached another milestone with its highest top 25 RPI ranking last year after a program first of 5-0 start.
Beard started his coaching career in 1998 at the club level in Texas. After coaching club, high school and semi professional, Beard moved his family to Rwanda to work as a coach with the Rwandan Football Federation, FERWAFA, in 2006. He spent four years as the head coach of the women’s national team, as well as working as the director for the first Youth Futsal league in Rwanda and as an adviser for the men’s U-17 and U-20 national teams.
Beard started his college coaching career when he returned to the United States as the founding head coach of the men’s soccer program at Lubbock Christian University in 2009. He led LCU to an overall record of 31-16-8 in three seasons and took the Chaps to the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament in 2011 and again in 2012, where they played for the SAC conference championship, and finished as the regular season runner up and SAC Championship finalist. His LCU players earned numerous individual honors, including NAIA All-American, SAC Player of Year, SAC Offensive Player of the Year, SAC Newcomer of the Year, and ten SAC All-Conference awards.
A native of Tyler, Texas, Beard earned a Bachelor’s degree from Lubbock Christian University in 2000. He has continued his education studying conflict resolution at the University of Alabama, Strategic Management from the Berlin International Institute of Business Management, and is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in Leadership from Auburn University. He also holds coaching licenses and diplomas from the USSF, USCA(NSCAA), FERWAFA, ICA, and the FA of England.
Beard married his wife Luz in 1996, and they have two children – Koen and Heaven.
