After 11 unforgettable seasons, Bruce Pearl is stepping down as Auburn’s men’s basketball coach and moving into a new role as ambassador and special assistant to the athletic director, the university announced Monday. His son, Steven Pearl, will succeed him as head coach on a five-year contract, keeping the program in the family.
Pearl, 65, leaves the sidelines after guiding the Tigers to their second-ever Final Four this past season. Auburn entered the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 overall seed, notching 32 wins before falling to Florida in the national semifinal. Over his tenure, Pearl compiled a 246-125 record, six NCAA tournament appearances, and both of Auburn’s Final Four trips. His leadership also brought three SEC regular-season titles and two SEC tournament championships.
Reflecting on his time at Auburn, Pearl said, “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. 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 also 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.”
Dear Auburn Family, I truly love you.@CoachBrucePearl x #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/xFJAEetMLv
— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) September 22, 2025
Pearl has often spoken openly about his faith and its role in shaping his coaching philosophy. His focus on “faith, family, and passion” reflects the values he says helped turn Auburn into a national powerhouse. Beyond the trophies, Pearl’s influence has been about developing character and investing in people.
Pearl’s name had been tied to politics in recent months, with speculation that he might run for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Tommy Tuberville. Pearl addressed those rumors directly, making clear that Auburn remains his calling.
“Many of you know that I thought and prayed about maybe running for United States Senate, maybe to be the next great senator from the state of Alabama,” he said. “That would’ve required leaving Auburn. And instead, the university has given me an opportunity to stay here and be Auburn’s senator.”
Steven Pearl, who played under his father at Tennessee from 2007–2011, has been on Auburn’s staff since 2014 and was promoted to associate head coach before the 2023–24 season. Now, at age 37, he will lead the program.
“I’m incredibly grateful to President Dr. Roberts, Athletics Director John Cohen, and the entire Auburn leadership team for entrusting me with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Steven said. “In a sense, I’ve spent my lifetime preparing for this moment, learning from one of the best in BP, and building a foundation rooted in character, hard work, and team-first values. We’re not starting over — we’re building forward, with the same principles that have made Auburn Basketball elite. I’m honored to lead this program, and I’m ready to rise to the moment.”
For Auburn fans, Bruce Pearl’s departure marks the end of an era—but his influence remains, not just in banners and records but also in the faith-filled culture he leaves behind. With his son at the helm, that legacy is set to continue, rooted in family, fueled by passion, and anchored by faith.