CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri head coach Tony Samuel completed his staff when he hired Joel Beard as wide receivers coach Monday.

Beard spent the last year as head coach at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He was named to that position after serving as the Dragons offensive coordinator for three seasons and interim head coach for the final five games of the 2009 campaign.

A participant of the 2006 NCAA Football Coaches Academy, Beard was appointed wide receivers coach at MSU Moorhead in March of 2007. He was promoted to offensive coordinator by the start of that season.

Prior to MSU Moorhead, Beard spent six seasons coaching at the high school level.

He began his coaching career as head coach at Southwestern High School in Hazel Green, Wis., for the 2000 and 2001 campaigns. While at SHS, Beard helped the program achieve single-game
records for passing yards and individual total offense.

Beard spent the 2002 season as wide receivers coach at his alma mater, UW-Stout.

The following year, Beard coached the wide receivers at Franklin High School. After that, he spent three years as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks/running backs coach at Nicolet High School.

Beard was a two-sport athlete at UW-Platteville, where he lettered in football and basketball.

He lettered four years in basketball and was a member of two national championship teams coached by Bo Ryan (currently head coach at the University of Wisconsin).

Beard established single-season passing records in attempts, completions and yards gained as a starting quarterback for the Pioneers his senior year.

Beard obtained a degree in psychology from UW-Stout. He and his wife, Sara, have a daughter, Nyha.