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WATCH: Auburn athletic director, Bruce Pearl announce big-time extension

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh01/29/22griffin_mcveigh
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Auburn Tigers basketball head coach Bruce Pearl react on the sideline against the Kentucky Wildcats. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

The Auburn Tigers basketball program has ascended to the top over the past few weeks, earning the No. 1 spot in the AP poll for the first time in program history. Head coach Bruce Pearl has made the Tigers a top program over his eight years on the Plains.

On Friday, Auburn was able to lock up their head coach to a contract extension. Athletic director Allen Greene announced the move via Twitter, saying Pearl is locked up “for life.”

“War Eagle, Auburn family,” Greene said in a video on Twitter late Friday night. “Tonight’s a great night. I got a big surprise for you. We locked him up.”

Pearl then came into the shot and spoke on what being the Auburn basketball coach meant to him. He said the process of getting an extension was easy for everyone involved.

“Hey, War Eagle everybody,” Pearl said. “Listen, it wasn’t that hard. I’m grateful to Allen, I’m grateful to the administration… My family and I are going to be able to stay and be your basketball coach for a long, long time. I’m grateful, I’m humbled, I’m blessed to be your coach.

You can watch the full interaction here.

Auburn quickly made a move to extend Pearl, whose name was being associated with the open Louisville job. The Cardinals just fired head coach Chris Mack and were looking to make a big-time hire. Pearl was reportedly one of the names at the top of their list.

Pearl has brought the Tigers to heights they have never achieved. Not only with the top ranking in the AP poll but to the Final Four during the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Top recruits have bought into Pearl as well, being in contention and landing five-star prospects on a yearly basis.

Now, it seems as if Pearl will finish out his career at Auburn. The head coach is currently 61 years old and as Greene said in his tweet — Pearl is locked up for life.