BREAKING: Bruce Pearl to retire, son Steven Pearl to take over as head coach at Auburn
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Bruce Pearl is set to retire as the head coach of the Auburn men’s basketball program after 11 seasons with the Tigers. His son Steven Pearl will become the team’s next head coach.
The news comes less than three weeks after Bruce Pearl said he didn’t plan on coaching “that much longer” on a college basketball podcast.
The university said Pearl will move into an ambassador’s role in the athletic department as special assistant to the athletic director.
Pearl released a statement Monday afternoon after the news broke:
“11 years ago, I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to become the head basketball coach at Auburn, and it has been nothing short of amazing. With the Auburn Family’s unwavering support, we have built a program from the ground up and taken it to heights it had never reached before. Not only have we won championships, but we have built the best home-court advantage in college basketball, we’ve invested in this community and changed lives, and we’ve developed and graduated Auburn men. We built a program with the core tenants of faith, family and passion, and together, we made history. I hope we have made Auburn proud.
“I have been at this for almost 50 years and truthfully as hard as it is for me to say this, I have come to the realization that it’s time for me to step aside. Being the head coach at Auburn has been the privilege of my life.
“There are so many people to thank, but the success that we achieved would not have been possible first and foremost, without the players who worked incredibly hard to improve every day on the court, in the classroom and developing into men. I’ve had the best staff in the country and can’t thank then enough for their commitment. We’ve had tremendous support from our university administration, athletic administration and the Board of Trustees, whom I’m incredibly grateful for. I want to thank Jay Jacobs and Jay Gogue for hiring me as well as our current administration, Dr. Chris Roberts and John Cohen, for their commitment to excellence.
“Auburn Family, I love you and I hope you understand that for me, it is time. Brandy and I are looking forward to the opportunity to continue serving the Auburn Family – just, in a new capacity. War Eagle!”
Bruce Pearl
The offseason has also been filled with rumors of Pearl wanting to run for political office but no campaign has been officially announced yet.
Auburn basketball under Bruce Pearl
In Pearl’s 11 seasons at the helm, Auburn compiled:
- 244-123 record
- 3 SEC regular season championships
- 2 SEC Tournament championships
- 6 NCAA Tournament appearances
- 2 Final Four appearances
- 8 NBA Draft picks
Pearl officially has 477 career wins as a college basketball coach, a career that included stops at Milwaukee and Tennessee. That number currently ranks him in the top 100 all-time in men’s basketball.
In Knoxville, Pearl went to the NCAA tournament in all six seasons including three Sweet 16 appearances and one Elite Eight run. He was fired in 2011 after being charged by the NCAA for unethical conduct after lying to the NCAA during an investigation into recruiting violations.
Pearl was given a three-year show-cause penalty by the NCAA, with Auburn hiring him five months before it ended.
“Throughout his five decades on the court, Bruce has energized fan bases, won championships, helped student-athletes graduate, worked with young people to achieve their dreams, and impacted countless lives. The marks of a true college basketball Hall of Famer.
“While Bruce has been a stalwart of college basketball for his entire career, nowhere has he made a stronger impact than his 11 years at Auburn. During his tenure on the Plains, Bruce has brought pride to the Auburn family as he pursued and won championships through relentless toughness and determination.
“I have seen BP coach over these last three seasons, not just games, but at morning workouts, and in the practice gym. It has been a pleasure watching Coach Pearl love the student-athletes so deeply and take pride in their success both on and off the court – but also instilling in them what it is to be an Auburn man.
“I know Bruce and Brandy will continue to be pillars of the Auburn community and that they will be strong advocates for the next chapter of Auburn Men’s Basketball and all of Auburn University.”
John Cohen, Auburn Athletics Director
Steven Pearl played for Tennessee during his playing career but he has been at Auburn since his coaching career started.
He started as an assistant strength + conditioning coach in 2015 before being elevated to the director of basketball operations. Pearl was promoted to Associate Head Coach in August 2023.
The university said Steven Pearl has signed a 5-year contract to become the next head coach.
“In a sense, I’ve spent my lifetime preparing for this moment, learning from one of the best in BP, and building a foundation rooted in character, hard work, and team-first values. We’re not starting over — we’re building forward, with the same principles that have made Auburn Basketball elite. I’m honored to lead this program, and I’m ready to rise to the moment.”
Steven Pearl
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