Introduction to Bruce Pearl’s Retirement
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Auburn coach Bruce Pearl announced his retirement Monday less than six months after wrapping up the Tigers’ best season in program history with a trip to the Final Four.
Pearl’s 38-year-old son Steven Pearl is taking over as coach of the Tigers.
Reason for Retirement
"I just feel when I can’t give 100% it’s time to pass the torch,” Bruce Pearl said in a 14-minute video posted on social media.
Bruce Pearl, 65, is the school’s winningest men’s coach and took the Tigers to their only two NCAA Final Four appearances. He will move into an ambassador role as an assistant to Auburn’s athletic director, and isn’t going into politics after rumors had circulated about a potential senate run.
Future Plans
“Many of you know that I thought and prayed about maybe running for United States Senate,” Pearl said. “Maybe to be the next great senator in the state of Alabama. That would’ve required leaving Auburn, and instead the university has given me the opportunity to stay here and be Auburn’s senator. I need to focus now on being a great husband, being a great father, being the best grandfather I possibly can be."
Coaching Legacy
Pearl advanced the Tigers to their first Final Four in 2019, defeating Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky in successive games. They lost to eventual-champion Virginia by one point. Last season, led by All-American Johni Broome, the Tigers earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and had a school-record 32 wins before losing to Southeastern Conference rival Florida in the national semifinal.
Pearl and Rick Pitino, who ushered in a quick turnaround at St. John’s, last season shared The Associated Press men’s college basketball coach of the year award, the first tie in the 58-year history of the award.
Coaching History
Pearl had a 246-125 record at Auburn, but the school recognizes only 232 of those wins after vacating 12 wins from the 2016-17 season because of NCAA infractions involving former assistant coach Chuck Person. Pearl received a two-game suspension for failure to monitor his assistant and adequately promote compliance.
Pearl had been fired from Tennessee in 2011 after the NCAA charged him with unethical conduct and then additional violations surfaced. He was 145-71 and made five NCAA Tournament appearances with the Volunteers from 2005-11.
Auburn hired Pearl in March 2014, when he was in the final months of his show-cause penalty, to take over a program that hadn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2003. The Tigers went six times in 11 seasons under Pearl, including the past four.
Early Career
Before his two SEC stops, Pearl won a NCAA Division II national championship in 1995 with Southern Indiana while going 231-46 in his first head coaching job from 1992-01. He then was 86-38 in four seasons at Milwaukee, going to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2005 before getting hired by Tennessee.
Steven Pearl’s New Role
Steven Pearl played 101 games for his father at Tennessee from 2007-11. He was a medical sales representative for three years before joining the Auburn staff in 2014, and was promoted to associate head coach before the 2023-24 season.
When Bruce Pearl was suspended for the two games early in the 2021-22 season, Steven Pearl was the acting head coach in a pair of lopsided wins.
Conclusion
Bruce Pearl’s retirement marks the end of an era for Auburn men’s basketball. With a legacy that includes two Final Four appearances and a school-record 32 wins in a season, Pearl will be remembered as one of the greatest coaches in Auburn history. As he moves into an ambassador role, he will continue to be involved with the university, and his son Steven will take over as head coach, looking to build on the success that Bruce Pearl has achieved.
FAQs
Q: Why is Bruce Pearl retiring?
A: Bruce Pearl is retiring because he feels he can no longer give 100% to the team.
Q: Who will take over as head coach of the Auburn Tigers?
A: Steven Pearl, Bruce Pearl’s son, will take over as head coach.
Q: What is Bruce Pearl’s coaching record at Auburn?
A: Bruce Pearl has a 246-125 record at Auburn, but the school recognizes only 232 of those wins due to NCAA infractions.
Q: What will Bruce Pearl do after retirement?
A: Bruce Pearl will move into an ambassador role as an assistant to Auburn’s athletic director.
