Auburn men's basketball head coach Bruce Pearl is reportedly retiring, according to ESPN's Jeff Borzello. His son, Steven Pearl, 38, will take over immediately as the Tigers' head coach. Steven has served as the team’s associate head coach since 2023.
“Eleven 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,” Bruce Pearl said. "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 tenets of faith, family and passion, and together, we made history. I hope we have made Auburn proud."
Pearl, 65, has held his role on the Plains for the past 11 seasons, becoming arguably the greatest coach in Auburn basketball history.
This shocking move comes after one of the greatest seasons in program history, which ended in San Antonio at the Final Four. The 2024-25 team will be forever etched in history after winning 32 games and capturing the SEC regular-season championship.
Bruce Pearl was named Auburn’s head coach on March 18, 2014. At the time, the Tigers’ program was struggling, as they had not made the NCAA Tournament since 2003.
When Pearl stepped off his plane at Auburn University Regional Airport, the Auburn family felt something they hadn’t in a long time: hope.
"I’m humbled and blessed to be back in the game that I love. I don’t know how long it will take, but it’s time to rebuild the Auburn basketball program and bring it to a level of excellence so many of the other teams on campus enjoy,” Bruce Pearl said after accepting the job as head coach. "I’m thrilled to join the Auburn family and appreciative of this opportunity and the challenge that awaits."
In 2019, his vision finally became a reality, as his squad went on a Cinderella run, taking down New Mexico State, Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky en route to the program’s first Final Four appearance.
Bruce Pearl ends his career on the Plains with a 244-123 record, six NCAA Tournament appearances, three SEC regular season championships, two SEC Tournament championships and two trips to the Final Four.
“Auburn Family, I love you and I hope you understand that for me, it is time," Bruce Pearl said. "Brandy and I are looking forward to the opportunity to continue serving the Auburn Family – just, in a new capacity. War Eagle!”
The Auburn Plainsman will continue to update this story, as more details are released.
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Rory is a sophomore majoring in journalism sports production. He started with The Plainsman in the spring of 2025.
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