TEXAS — Former Texas men’s basketball head coach Chris Beard has emerged as the top candidate for the men’s basketball position at Ole Miss, according to ESPN.

Sources say the two parties are in contact and Ole Miss is in the process of “doing their due diligence” on the former Longhorns coach.

Beard was fired from the University of Texas at Austin on Jan. 5 following a domestic violence charge brought against him by his fiancé, Randi Trew, who had told police that he strangled and bit her in a confrontation at his home last December. She later said Beard acted in self-defense and that she never wanted him prosecuted. Trew issued a public statement on Dec. 23 in which she denied telling police Beard choked her. She also said she never intended for him to be arrested or prosecuted.

The charges against Beard were dropped Feb. 15.

According to ESPN, Beard has been linked the Ole Miss position since the firing of their head coach Kermit Davis on Feb. 24. The Rebels went 74-79 in Davis’ five years at Ole Miss and failed to reach the NCAA tournament after his first year.

In January, Beard's house in Austin was listed for $4.95 million. It remains listed. 

Beard had five years left on a seven-year guaranteed contract at Texas that includes a provision he could be fired for cause if he was charged with a felony. 

Beard had been suspended without pay since he was arrested. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.