Auburn’s Bruce Pearl Retires; Son Steven Pearl Takes Helm
In a stunning development just ahead of the 2025–26 college basketball season, Bruce Pearl, the celebrated head coach of Auburn University’s men’s basketball team, announced his retirement after 11 seasons leading the Tigers.¹ He will move into an ambassadorial role as a special assistant to the athletics director. In his place, his son Steven Pearl, 38, associate head coach since 2023, has been appointed head coach with a five-year contract.²
A Legacy Built on Upsets and Excellence
Bruce Pearl leaves Auburn as its winningest men’s basketball coach, with 246 wins and a record of 246-125 at Auburn alone.³ Under his leadership, Auburn earned six NCAA Tournament appearances, two Final Four berths (most recently in 2025), multiple SEC regular-season and tournament championships, and national No. 1 seed.⁴ His record includes building Auburn into a program with a formidable home-court atmosphere, strong recruiting, and consistently competitive squads in one of college basketball’s toughest conferences.
Pearl’s tenure was not without challenges. Controversies and past NCAA infractions have followed him throughout his career, but his achievements in elevating Auburn’s basketball profile are widely recognized. The 2024-25 season was arguably his best: Auburn won the SEC regular season title, posted 32 wins, and entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed before falling in the national semifinals.
Transition Plan: Continuity Over Disruption
Steven Pearl inherits a program rich in momentum. The university emphasized that this isn’t a complete reset—Steven played under his father at Tennessee, has been on Auburn’s staff since 2017, and is seen as someone who understands Bruce’s philosophy on defense, recruiting, and character building.⁵ Auburn’s athletic director, John Cohen, praised Steven’s strong relationships with players and coaches, and his readiness to step into the role without losing the core identity that Bruce Pearl established.
The transition comes at a sensitive time: preseason rankings have Auburn among the nation’s top teams, expectations are high, and scrutiny will be intense. Steven Pearl will have to navigate players potentially entering the transfer portal, maintain recruiting pipelines, and uphold the standard of success the program has earned.
What This Means for Auburn and College Basketball
Auburn will aim to retain its star players and keep momentum, especially after a Final Four appearance and significant wins across the SEC.
Fans and analysts will watch whether Steven Pearl can sustain the program’s performance, especially in big games and the postseason.
The coaching shake-up could trigger ripple effects across recruiting, player mindset, and rival programs, who may see opportunity or instability.
Bruce Pearl’s retirement marks the end of an era, but the foundation he laid gives Auburn a springboard. With Steven Pearl stepping in, the question is not just who remembers the legacy—but who builds on it.
