The University of Texas got its man.

After letting Shaka Smart walk away to Marquette following six seasons without an NCAA Tournament win, Texas hired Chris Beard away from Texas Tech.

“He’s gone,” a Texas Tech team source said after Beard met Thursday morning with his players.

Beard, 48, was a graduate assistant at Texas and will return to the school as its top choice after letting Smart walk.

He is 208-84 (.712) for his career and 112-55 (.671) in five seasons at Texas Tech, including an appearance in the 2019 NCAA championship game. This season the Red Raiders lost in second round of the NCAA Tournament.

His contract buyout for schools in Texas and/or the Big 12 dropped from $5 million to $4 million after Thursday.

He takes over a Texas team with big ambitions but a sore ego after losing in the first round of the Big Dance to No. 14 Abilene Christian as a 3 seed. The Longhorns haven’t been to the Final Four since 2003 and to the Sweet 16 since 2008.

The program is losing Kai Jones to the NBA Draft and freshman forward Greg Brown is expected to declare also.

Texas Tech, meantime, saw junior guard Kyler Edwards announce his plans to transfer after the Beard news.