Millersville

Dan Beard was named Millersville's special teams coordinator and linebackers' coach prior to the 2018 season. 

In his five seasons working with the two groups, Beard has helped develop some of the top linebackers in the PSAC, including Isaiah Onuschak, a three-time All-PSAC East performer, and Garrett Cox, who became Millersville's first All-American since 1998. In 2022, two of his linebackers earned All-PSAC East honors. Beard's work with the special teams showed in punter Zach Banta being named all-region and setting a program record for punting average. The 2023 season was a banner campaign for the special teams unit as Banta earned All-PSAC East honors for a second time and recorded the longest punt in Millersville history. Kicker Trent McDowell tied a program record for the longest field goal, and Hakim Melvin returned two kicks for touchdowns. 

In 2023, Beard shared his expertise in special teams by publishing an article titled "Title the Field on Special Teams: Teaching and Succeeding with Generation Z Special Teams Players" in the AFCA technical manual.

After a four-year playing career at Shenandoah University, Beard quickly climbed the coaching ranks, working with programs at the Division III, Division II and Division I FCS levels.

Beard caught the eye of Millersville head coach J.C. Morgan's when the duo worked together at Shippensburg University. As a graduate assistant working with the defensive backs, Beard built for himself a reputation as a tenacious recruiter in Western Pennsylvania and Maryland, and contributed to one of the nation's best defenses in both the 2015 and 2016 seasons. His defensive backs helped the unit rank No. 8 in Division II in turnovers forced in in 2016, and it led all of Division II in turnover margin in 2015. He helped the defense total top-30 rankings in eight categories in 2016 and four in 2015. Beard was also responsible for instructing the kickoff team.

Beard was the special teams coordinator, defensive line coach and strength and conditioning coach for start-up program Alvernia. He made an immediate impact in recruiting. Responsible for York, Adams, Dauphin and Cumberland counties in Pennsylvania as well as counties in Maryland and Virginia and the state of Florida, Beard successfully recruited 26 student-athletes to a program that had not yet played a game. Beard also worked as the team's social media coordinator.

Beard also gained experience as a graduate assistant coaching linebackers at McDaniel College from 2013-15. he also worked closely with special teams and strength and conditioning. From 2011-13, Beard served as the outside linebackers coach and strength and conditioning co-coordinator at Allegheny College. Prior to graduating from Shenandoah with a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology in 2011, Beard interned with the strength and conditioning staff and James Madison University. 

As a player, Beard played one season at fullback and three on the defensive side of the ball. He was a ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III First Team selection as well as a two-time All-USA South Conference All-Academic Team member. Beard earned a master's degree in exercise science and physical education from McDaniel in 2015 and a master's degree in organizational leadership development from Shippensburg in 2017.