The Auburn men’s basketball program is going from one Pearl to another.
Head coach Bruce Pearl will retire effective immediately and move into an ambassador’s role in the athletic department, while his son Steven Pearl will be promoted to head coach beginning with the 2025-26 season.
The younger Pearl had served as an assistant under his father for the last 11 seasons, including being associate head coach the past two seasons. He signed a five-year contract to become the 22nd head coach in Auburn men’s basketball history.
Bruce Pearl spent 11 seasons at the helm, leading Auburn to a 246-125 record with two Final Four appearances (2019 and 2024). In his 21 seasons as a Division I head coach at Milwaukee, Tennessee and Auburn, Pearl went 477-224 with 14 NCAA Tournament appearances. Pearl was fired by Tennessee in 2011 for lying to the NCAA during an investigation into recruiting violations.
Last season, Auburn went 32-6 while earning a No. 1 seed in March Madness. The Tigers lost in the Final Four to eventual champion Florida in what was the 65-year-old Pearl’s last game.
Now, Steven Pearl takes over at the age of 38. He played for his father at Tennessee from 2007 to 2011 before joining him on Auburn’s staff in 2014.
“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,” Steven Pearl said. “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.”
NCAAB
As for Bruce Pearl, this decision comes at a time when he’s shown more interest in politics. He told reporters weeks ago that running for Senate was “certainly something that I had considered,” as outgoing Senator Tommy Tuberville plans his run for governor in Alabama. Tuberville was once the head football coach at Auburn.
Auburn’s 2025-26 season tips off on Nov. 3 against Bethune-Cookman.