Chris Beene is in his sixth season as head cross country/track and field coach at South Plains College.

Since his arrival in Levelland, Beene has led the Texans and Lady Texans to a combined 11 NJCAA championships in men's and women's cross country, half-marathon, indoor track and outdoor track. In 2008-09 the Texans and Lady Texans earned five national titles when they came away with trophies in the men's half-marathon, and then they swept the men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field titles.

In the fall of 2009, Beene led the Texans to another title in the half-marathon and look to continue to be the team to beat on the track in 2010.

Beene came to SPC from Wayland Baptist University in Plainview. He was named Women's NAIA Region 5 and 6 Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2004 and Men's Sooner Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2004.

He came to Wayland after serving four seasons as an assistant coach at Texas Tech University where he was in charge of coaching the multi-events, pole vault and javelin.

Beene also had previous assistant coaching stints at Abilene Christian University, and at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. During his time at Abilene Christian, Beene was part of 12 NCAA Division II national team championships and he also coached two decathletes to individual titles as well.

Beene has coached two athletes, Stephen Moore and Trafton Rodgers, who went on to win USATF Men's Heptathlon Indoor Championships. After, Moore went on to win a USA Indoor Championship and he then placed fourth at the World Indoor Championships in Barcelona, Spain. Both Moore and Rodgers competed in the USA Olympic Trials with Rodgers in 2000 and Moore in 2000 and 2004. Moore also won a gold medal in the decathlon at the Pan American Games.

In all, Beene has coached 57 individual national champions, 10 regional championship teams, one NAIA conference championship team, 11 NJCAA national championship teams and numerous all-Americans. Two athletes, Sally Kipyego in the 1,500 meter run and 5,000 meter run, and Kelly Closse in the indoor shot put currently hold NJCAA national records.

A former all-American decathlete, Beene received both his bachelor's and master's degrees in kinesiology from Angelo State University.

Beene and his wife Corye have a daughter, Faith and a son, Sage.