Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl announced on Monday that he is retiring, and longtime ESPN analyst Michael Wilbon was openly pleased about the news.
Pearl, 65, is stepping down at Auburn and handing the program over to his son Steven. Wilbon and “Pardon the Interruption” co-host Tony Kornheiser addressed the news at the end of Monday’s show, and the two shared different opinions.
Kornheiser said he liked Pearl and noted how the coach “was such a great guest” when he appeared on PTI. Wilbon, on the other hand, is happy to see Pearl go. Wilbon even said he hopes Auburn faced pressure to move on from Pearl.
“Tony, he had become a divisive person, it seems to me intentionally. I hope there was pressure to get hm out,” Wilbon said.
Pearl is Jewish and has conservative views. He has been vocal about his support of Israel in recent months. That has led to some speculation that he could now get involved in politics, though he said the rumors about him planning to run for the U.S. Senate are not true.
Wilbon likely disagrees with Pearl’s political stances, which is why he views the longtime coach as “divisive.”
Pearl coached Auburn for 11 seasons. He led the team to the Final Four twice, including last season, when the team went 32-6 and won the SEC. Pearl’s Tigers have won the SEC twice and finished tied for first once. They made the NCAA Tournament six times.
Auburn is the fourth school where Pearl has been the head coach. He also coached at Southern Indiana, UW-Milwaukee and Tennessee. He won a Division II national championship, and he led his Division I teams to the NCAA Tournament 16 times, reaching at least the Sweet Sixteen six times.
Pearl has also been in trouble with the NCAA during his career, though there is no indication of any present wrongdoing with the organization.