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Auburn, Bruce Pearl officially announce retirement in tribute video

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby: Grant Grubbs09/22/25grant_grubbs_
bruce pearl (1)
Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Auburn men’s basketball head coach Bruce Pearl is retiring after 11 seasons at the helm of the program. Shortly after the news broke on Monday, Pearl released a 14-minute video discussing his decision.

“Being the head coach of Auburn basketball is the privilege of my life,” Pearl said. “The opportunity to join with so many of the great, legendary coaches of the past and the present, I’m truly grateful. Eleven years ago, we planted roots, here, in Auburn, Alabama. And that won’t change. God truly had a plan. But, for me, it’s time.

“I’ve been a part of college basketball for almost 50 years, and the truth is it’s time. I told myself that when I got to the point where I could not give it my all, where I wasn’t necessarily 100%, where I couldn’t be the relentless competitor that you expected of me, that it was going to be time. And, as hard it is to say this, I reached the realization that it’s time for me to step aside.”

During his tenure, Pearl led Auburn to a 244-123 record, two SEC Tournament titles, three regular-season conference championships and the only two Final Four appearances in Auburn MBB history. His son, Steven, is expected to be Auburn’s next head coach.

Steven Pearl has been an assistant at Auburn since 2017. He was the team’s associate head coach from 2023-25.

Pearl has hinted at his impending retirement this offseason. During an appearance on The Paul Finebaum Show earlier this month, Pearl made headlines when he said he didn’t expect to coach through the end of his contract.

“I’ve got five years left on my contract, and I’d be surprised if I were to last five years,” Pearl said. “Let’s just put it that way.”

Amid Pearl’s sudden retirement decision, there will undoubtedly be speculation around his interest in politics. In May, reports surfaced claiming Pearl was interested in running for Senate, with Senator Tommy Tuberville stepping away to run for governor. Jewish Insider‘s Emily Jacobs provided further details on Pearl’s interest in public office on Sept. 9.

“Bruce Pearl, Auburn University’s men’s basketball coach, is leaning against running to replace outgoing Sen. Tommy Tuberville but is giving himself until the end of the month to make a final decision,” Jacobs wrote on X. “Pearl, who would be the only Jewish Republican in the Senate if elected, spent the summer meeting with Alabama campaign operatives & GOP senators as he considered entering the race.

“… Sources close to Pearl tell me he is unlikely to enter the contest, though they stress that the Auburn coach has not officially decided against running yet. Pearl wants to give himself a few more weeks in case he were to change his mind.”

It’s been 13 days since Jacobs’ report. Pearl’s legacy at Auburn is immense, but it’s not the only place where he made an impact in the college basketball landscape.

Pearl also served as the head coach at Tennessee, Milwaukee and Southern Indiana. He also was an assistant coach at Stanford and Iowa. Pearl was a manager for Boston College‘s basketball team until he graduated in 1982.