Bruce Pearl retires as Auburn coach; Steven Pearl to take over program

AUBURN, Ala. — Bruce Pearl, Auburn’s winningest men’s basketball coach, announced his retirement Monday, less than six months after guiding the Tigers to their best season in program history with another trip to the Final Four. Pearl, 65, said in a 14-minute video posted on social media that when he can’t give 100% it’s time to pass the torch. The 38-year-old Steven Pearl, who has been on his father’s coaching staff for all 11 seasons at Auburn, will take over as coach. Pearl will move into an ambassador role as an assistant to Auburn’s athletic director, and he said he isn’t pursuing politics despite rumors about a potential United States Senate run. “I just feel when I can’t give 100% it’s time to pass the torch,” Pearl said in the video.

Pearl’s tenure has included two Final Four runs, including 2019 when Auburn defeated Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky in successive games before a one-point loss to eventual champion Virginia. Last season, the Tigers earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and posted a school-record 32 wins before falling to Southeastern Conference rival Florida in the national semifinal. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey credited Pearl with helping to elevate the league’s competitive level and popularity with his “dynamic leadership and relentless energy.” “While his on-court achievements are well documented, it is his genuine connection with fans, media and the broader community that truly distinguishes his impact,” Sankey said.

Pearl and Rick Pitino shared The Associated Press men’s college basketball coach of the year award last season, the first tie in the 58-year history of the honor. Auburn notes 246-125 career record for Pearl on the court, but the school recognizes only 232 wins after vacating games 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’s on-court success at Auburn comes after a controversial stint at Tennessee, where he was fired in 2011 amid an NCAA investigation that charged him with unethical conduct and later additional violations. He went 145-71 at Tennessee and reached six NCAA Tournaments, including a Sweet 16 appearance three times and a regional final in 2010. Auburn hired Pearl in March 2014, when he was nearing the end of a show-cause penalty, to lift a program that had not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2003. The Tigers have since made six NCAA appearances in seven seasons.

Steven Pearl, who played 101 games for his father at Tennessee from 2007-11, joined the Auburn staff in 2014 and was promoted to associate head coach before the 2023-24 season. “There is nobody more qualified or in a position to maintain our culture of faith, family and doing it the Auburn way than Steven,” Bruce Pearl said. “He’s actually tougher than I am, and just as competitive. Out of loyalty to Auburn and me, Steven passed on several previous chances to pursue head coaching opportunities, choosing instead to invest in our men’s basketball program and help it reach unprecedented heights.”

When Bruce Pearl served his suspension during the 2021-22 season, Steven Pearl was the acting head coach in a pair of lopsided wins. Auburn AD John Cohen said the university conducted an internal national search to prepare for Pearl’s departure and that Steven Pearl was the best fit. “Throughout our detailed process, it became obvious to me and our staff that Steven Pearl was clearly the best fit for Auburn,” Cohen said.

Correction: This story originally misstated the number of NCAA Tournament appearances Pearl made at Tennessee. Pearl made the NCAA Tournament in six seasons with Tennessee, not five.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball