Liputan6.com, Jakarta Auburn Tigers men's basketball head coach Bruce Pearl officially announced his retirement, effective September 22, 2025.
This decision comes after 11 accomplished seasons leading the program, culminating in a successful 2024-2025 season.
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His final season at Auburn was marked by his second NCAA Final Four appearance under his leadership, cementing a strong legacy for the team.
"I've been a part of college basketball for almost 50 years, and the truth is, it's time," Pearl said tearfully in a video.
"I told myself when I got to the point where I could not give it my all, or I wasn't necessarily 100 percent, or I couldn't be the relentless competitor that [Auburn fans] expected of me, that it was going to be time."
The announcement came on the first day of team practice, ending speculation that had been circulating for several weeks.
Upon retiring as head coach, Bruce Pearl will not be leaving the university entirely.
He will transition to a new role as a university ambassador, serving as special assistant to the athletic director, continuing his contributions to the institution.
Leadership Transition at Auburn
The leadership of Auburn will be passed to his son, Steven Pearl, who is now 38 years old.
Steven Pearl has been an integral part of the Auburn coaching staff throughout his father's tenure.
He has been with Auburn since Bruce Pearl took over in 2014 and will take over the reins as the Tigers look to make another NCAA tournament run.
Steven began his career at Auburn as director of operations, then rose to assistant coach in 2017.
Since 2023, he has served as assistant head coach, preparing him for this expanded role.
Bruce Pearl's Brilliant Trail at Auburn
During his 11 seasons at Auburn, Bruce Pearl made history with a 246–125 (.663) record, making him the winningest coach in program history.
Under his guidance, Auburn reached two NCAA Final Fours in 2019 and 2025, a remarkable achievement.
Other accomplishments include three SEC regular season championships and two SEC tournament titles, demonstrating the team's dominance in the conference.
Auburn has also made six NCAA Tournament appearances, demonstrating consistency on the national stage.
In 2022, Pearl led the program to its first-ever national No. 1 ranking, and in the 2024-2025 season, the team held the No. 1 ranking for eight consecutive weeks.
For his dedication, he was named NABC Division I Coach of the Year and AP Co-Coach of the Year in 2025.
Bruce Pearl's Coaching Legacy
Before joining Auburn, Bruce Pearl had already built a strong reputation at various basketball programs.
He began his coaching career as an assistant at Stanford and Iowa, before becoming head coaches at Southern Indiana, Milwaukee, and Tennessee.
At Southern Indiana, he led the team to the Division II national championship in 1995, demonstrating his ability from the start.
Pearl is also known for being the second-fastest coach in the NCAA to reach 300 wins, taking just 382 games.
Throughout his career, his teams have won four conference championships and four conference tournament championships in Division I, as well as eleven appearances in the NCAA Division I Tournament.
Awards such as Sporting News Coach of the Year (2006) and the Adolph Rupp Cup (2008) are a testament to his contributions to the world of basketball.