The Auburn Tigers will have a new head coach this coming season, but the transition shouldn't feel too unfamiliar. Steven Pearl, who has been on staff as an assistant coach for several years, will take over for his father, longtime head coach Bruce Pearl. While Bruce had recently hinted at retirement, the timing still caught many by surprise.
“Not that much longer, Jon. I think it's kind of a balance of life, of time, of work. I love Auburn, I truly do. I want to do it when I am on top of my game. We owe that to our players and our fans. As you get a little bit older, you take it one day at a time,” Pearl told CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein.
On Monday afternoon, reports confirmed that Bruce Pearl would step down and that his son, Steven, would be named his successor.
“Bruce Pearl is expected to retire as the head coach at Auburn, sources tell me and Pete Thamel. His son, Steven, is expected to be the head coach for the upcoming season,” ESPN insider Jeff Borzello posted.
While many see this as a natural progression, not everyone agrees with the decision. Rivals analyst Justin Rowland voiced his skepticism, questioning Steven Pearl’s coaching résumé.
“Pearl's son is a 38-year-old who worked as a medical sales rep for years until he took up coaching in 2017. Only ever coached under his dad. I'm sure it's the best hire for Auburn,” Rowland posted.
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There’s no denying that Steven Pearl took an unconventional path to becoming a head coach. However, he’s spent years learning under Bruce Pearl — one of the most successful coaches in Auburn history — and played a key role in the program's recent success. Auburn likely wouldn’t have made the hire if it didn’t feel confident in Steven’s ability to lead.
The Tigers hope Steven can carry on — or even build upon — the success Bruce brought over the last 11 seasons. While this may not be the flashiest hire in college basketball, it’s one rooted in familiarity, continuity, and trust. Perhaps Steven Pearl will be the one to finally lead Auburn to a national championship — something his father never achieved.