Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl is calling it quits.
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello shared the shocking news on Monday morning, announcing that Bruce Peal will retire as head coach of the prestigious program. The plan is to have Pearl’s son, Steven, immediately step in as the team’s leader for the upcoming college basketball season.
Pearl has spent 11 years at Auburn and has made six NCAA Tournament appearances with the team. He previously served as the head coach at Tennessee, where he cracked the tournament every season, and at Milwaukee.
For what it’s worth, Pearl did at least allude to the end of his coaching days in an interview with Jewish Insider earlier this month. The coach suggested that he would want to move one while “at the top of his game.” Reports have also suggested that Pearl could consider a career in politics.
Dec 30, 2024; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl talks to his team during an injury delay in the second half at Neville Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-Imagn ImagesBruce Pearl Set to Retire From Auburn
The decision from Bruce Pearl comes following a season where Auburn finished 32-6 and clinched a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They would go on to make only their second-ever Final Four appearance before losing to the eventual national champion Florida Gators. Pearl also led Auburn to its other Final Four battle in 2019.
To be sure, Pearl’s career has not come without its controversy. Many Illinois Fighting Illini fans still hold a grudge against the head coach for an incident surrounding Deon Thomas in the late 80s. While working for Iowa, Pearl spoke to Thomas following his commitment to Illinois and recorded the conversation. He claimed that Thomas admitted to receiving perks from the Illini and turned over the tapes to the NCAA. An investigation wasn’t able to uncover enough to find that Illinois committed a violation with Thomas, but it did uncover separate issues that resulted in penalties.
Pearl’s other notable incident came during his days at Tennessee. Several popular recruits were said to have attended Pearl’s house for a barbecue, which went against NCAA rules. Pearl denied the allegations, only for photos to surface that proved he was lying. The head coach eventually admitted his mistake, which eventually played a part in his firing, as well as the NCAA slapping him with a three-year show-cause penalty. Auburn hired him shortly before he was allowed to officially return to the coaching circuit.
All in all, Pearl’s retirement comes only six weeks before the Tigers are set to tip off their 2025-26 season. While many have expected the team to take a slight step back this season after losing star Johni Broome, they are still considered to be one of the elite programs in college basketball. With that in mind, one has to wonder what Bruce Pearl’s absence could mean for their immediate and long-term future. Will current top recruits remain committed to the program? Will future recruits and transfers still hold Auburn to as high a status?
Only time will tell.
Hence then, the article about college basketball shocker auburn hc bruce pearl reportedly set to retire son takes over was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( College Basketball Shocker: Auburn HC Bruce Pearl Reportedly Set to Retire, Son Takes Over )
Also on site :
- Evans joins pullback from participation in NISP water project
- Ranji Trophy Live Day 2, Round 1: Will Ishan Kishan reach 150?
- Blackhawks 8, Blues 3 — Three Stars, Key Takeaways