No one questions Pearl’s ability to coach his team. The questions are about other things.
Auburn coach Bruce Pearl, after rumors that he might retire and run for the U.S. Senate, has indeed retired but will not enter politics.
He’s had a history, let’s say, with the NCAA, with three major controversies:
- “Ratting out” fellow coaches for cheating when he was an Iowa assistant (other coaches insinuated that he may not have had clean hands himself).
- He was forced out at Tennessee after lying about an unofficial visit from Aaron Craft and others who came to his house for a barbecue. Unfortunately, pictures emerged and Pearl was ultimately fired and got a three-year show cause from the NCAA.
- His Auburn assistant, Chuck Person, was caught up in the Adidas/FBI scandal in 2017. Pearl was not implicated, but did he know? In our opinion, he had to know. Unlike football, a basketball program is very intimate. It’s hard to think he didn’t know.
Clearly, when it comes to the NCAA and obeying the rules he promised to obey, Pearl was no saint. However, he is an excellent basketball coach with a borderline Hall of Fame resume.
He coached with immense energy and joy and certainly changed the perception of Auburn basketball. His son Steven will take over now, and like many , we’re skeptical. The younger Pearl has no history and the programs where fathers have arranged for their sons to take over haven’t always done well. Joey Meyer ultimately flamed out at DePaul, Pat Knight at Texas Tech and while John Thompson III started at Princeton and got Georgetown to a Final Four, he too was ultimately deemed a failure.
We’ll have to see what Steven does with his opportunity. His dad left a mixed legacy, but what his teams did on the court was beautiful. We thought we’d put together a links run for the occasion.
- ‘Pardon The Interruption’ Star Is Happy To See Bruce Pearl Retiring
- Dave Portnoy slams Michael Wilbon for ‘idiotic’ Bruce Pearl take
- Auburn basketball’s Steven Pearl flamed for thin resume under father Bruce Pearl, former sales rep
- Bruce Pearl Faces Criticism for Allegedly ‘Manipulating’ Auburn HC Succession With Retirement Timing
- Why Bruce Pearl’s Retirement Was His Final Power Move At Auburn
- Bruce Pearl’s Feelings on Nepotism For Bronny and LeBron James Resurface After Auburn Retirement
- Bruce Pearl’s retirement is as confusing and complicated as his coaching career
- ESPN Predicts How Bruce Pearl’s Retirement Affects Auburn Basketball in 2025-26
- Dave Portnoy rips ‘narrow minded’ Michael Wilbon over Bruce Pearl retirement take
- BREAKING: Bruce Pearl’s SUDDEN exit leaves Auburn REELING | Could Gonzaga SWOOP in for transfers?
- Here’s AL.com’s list of Bruce Pearl’s 10 most-notable wins at Auburn
- Bruce Pearl retires: Auburn coach abruptly steps down after 11-year tenure, greatest run in program history
- What’s next for Bruce Pearl after turning Auburn program over to son, Steven, addressing possible Senate run
Category: General Sports
