It's been just over two weeks since Bruce Pearl was introduced as the men's head basketball coach, and he's already at work on his first initiative: getting Auburn students involved in the rebuilding process.
"I've always believed that part of my responsibility as a coach and a teacher on a campus is to provide students with access and an opportunity," Pearl said. "The invitation that I'm sending out to the student body is that we're looking for a few good men and women to get involved with the program."
Pearl and his staff will be holding an open meeting for students interested in becoming involved with the program on April 7 at 5 p.m. in the Auburn Arena.
A variety of positions, such as student managers, video production assistants, statisticians and even interior designers, could potentially be made available to students.
"We're just throwing out ideas and trying to take advantage of the talent that's here on campus," Pearl said.
Pearl insists he and his staff aren't just looking for students to come shag balls at practice. Instead, he said students with a range of skill sets could find positions, both paid and unpaid, in the program's rebuilding process.
"Whether it's student-athletes that are playing or it is statisticians with analytics that are interested in dissecting the game from a numbers standpoint," Pearl said. "We've got an incredibly talented video department, and if you can come in here and get trained by these people you are so hirable in television and media."
One position Pearl specifically mentioned creating is a student director of promotions, a position Pearl hopes to fill with a student from the Raymond J. Harbert School of Business.
Pearl, who began his coaching career as a student assistant after walking on at Boston College, said gaining real life experience during college is vital to a successful career.
"Don't wait to pay your dues when you get out of college," Pearl said. "When you get out of college you have to pay your bills. Not that there aren't bills to pay now, but you should pay your dues now. What better thing to put on your resume than the fact that you were involved in helping to build a fanbase for Auburn basketball?"
Brooks Ohman, who has worked as a student manager for the past two years, said the opportunity is almost too good to pass up for fans of the game.
"We watch basketball games on television as a fan, but you don't know what all goes into making sure a team gets there on time and those things," Ohman said.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
