Bruce Pearl Expected to Retire as Auburn Head Coach

AUBURN, Ala. — Bruce Pearl is expected to retire as head coach of the Auburn Tigers men’s basketball team, multiple reports confirmed Monday. The announcement follows an impressive tenure that saw him elevate Auburn to national prominence.

The 65-year-old Pearl, who has led the Tigers since 2014, is coming off a season that featured Auburn’s second-ever Final Four appearance. Last season, the team achieved a remarkable 32 wins and earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament before losing to Florida.

Sources indicate that Steven Pearl, Bruce’s son and the associate head coach, is poised to take over as head coach for the upcoming season. He has been part of the coaching staff for the entire duration of Bruce’s tenure at Auburn.

Throughout his career, Bruce Pearl has been known for transforming basketball programs. His record at Auburn stands at 246 wins and 125 losses, including 11 NCAA tournament appearances, two SEC tournament titles, and multiple SEC regular-season championships.

Additionally, speculation about Pearl entering politics has circulated, particularly regarding an open U.S. Senate seat in Alabama. However, he has yet to publicly confirm any intentions in that direction, stating in early September that he was focused on basketball.

Pearl previously served as head coach at Tennessee, Milwaukee, and Southern Indiana, where he won a Division II national championship in 1995. His coaching style and success have made him a prominent figure in college basketball.

The announcement of his retirement marks a significant transition for Auburn, which has witnessed unprecedented success during his leadership. The university has yet to confirm the coaching change officially, but an announcement is expected soon.