'It's time': Bruce Pearl delivers message to Auburn fans upon retirement

Bruce Pearl officially retired on Monday. AuburnSports reported the news, along with the news that Steven Pearl would take over as head coach.

Bruce Pearl then released an official video message to the Auburn fans. Everything he said in the video can be read below.

“Dear Auburn family, 11 years ago, my family and I moved to the loveliest village on the Plains. We dug in here, built roots in Auburn, Alabama, and together, with your help and unwavering support, we built this program. We took it to heights never before reached.

“Together, we created the best home-court advantage in Neville Arena. Together, we invested in this community and changed lives. … Together, we did everything we could to make Auburn the everything school that it is. Together, we built and helped graduate 51 Auburn basketball players over the last 11 years. Together, we helped ensure life-long dreams became possible and a reality for those that wore the Auburn jersey.

“Together, we brought championships to Auburn, five in the last eight years alone. Together, we built a program with core tenets built around faith, family and passion. Together, we made history. We did our best to give God the glory and to call on Him every chance we got. Being the head coach of Auburn basketball was the privilege of my life and the opportunity to join with so many of the great, legendary coaches of the past and present. I’m truly grateful.

“11 years ago, we planted roots in Auburn, Alabama and that will never change. God truly had a plan, but for me, it’s time. I’ve been a part of college basketball for almost 50 years. The truth is, it’s time. I told myself when I got to the point when I could not give it my all or I wasn’t necessarily 100 percent, where I couldn’t be the relentless competitor that you expect of me, that it was going to be time. As hard as it is to say this, I reached the realization that it was time to step aside.

“”My dad taught me to work hard. I was cutting grass at 5 and shoveling snow at 7. He told me that hard work wouldn’t guarantee success, but without hard work, I wouldn’t have success, and it was my choice. It’s what I’ve instilled in my players, in my children and their families. And I’m so proud of all of them for working so hard and representing our family name. I’ve been asked before what I wanted out of my legacy. I’ve gone to work every day trying to award you for giving me the opportunity to be your basketball coach and represent this unbelievable university. I hope in some way, I’ve earned it. 

“”So after 30 years of being a head coach, lots of sleepless nights, the anxiety, the pressure — and quite frankly the fear of not being able to live up to the lofty expectations that we’ve established here at Auburn — I just feel that when I can’t give 100 percent, it’s time to pass the torch. I tell my players there’s a pretty good chance when you’re good at something you had a pretty good teacher, and I’ve had some great teachers. It started with my dad and extended to my first boss, Dr. Tom Davis, who saw something in me that I did not see in myself, when he gave me the opportunity to be his assistant coach at Boston College, Stanford and the University of Iowa. I’m so grateful that I got to Auburn in time to meet and get to know the legendary Pat Dye. One of my life’s greatest achievements was that I was able to get to know coach and earn his respect and trust as an Auburn man.

“”I can’t look back at my time at Auburn without thanking so many people. Jay Jacobs, Jay Gogue and the Board of Trustees that was here at that time back in 2014, they gave this coach another chance. Our current leadership, President Dr. Chris Roberts, the current members of the Board of Trustees, John Cohen my athletic director and the incredible team he’s built. Our many loyal supporters, too many to name, who believed in us before it became fashionable. Who gave us the patience at first to know that we had a ways to go to build a championship program. The SEC, commissioner Mike Slive, commissioner Greg Sankey, and your leadership, thank you for believing that Auburn basketball could be among the best in our incredible conference. 

“”I would also like to thank Boston College, my alma mater, Stanford University, where I was first an assistant coach. The University of Iowa, where I rose to be an associate head coach. Then, of course, the University of Southern Indiana, where I was a head coach for the very first time and won a national championship in 1995. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee gave me my first Division 1 opportunity. The University of Tennessee and the many coaches, student-athletes, friends, administrators that were part of this incredible journey. The many media members that spent time covering our practices not used to what an open practice would really look like. Thank you for your trust and thank you for telling the world how special this basketball program truly is. 

“I may not have even made it to Auburn without the friendship and support of my dear friend, Sir Charles Barkley. He called me when I was the coach at Tennessee. I didn’t know him and he didn’t care to know me. He just left me a message one day and said ‘coach, I like the way your teams play.’ Little did I know that a few years later I would be his basketball coach. Charles embracing this university, me, my family, and this basketball program had a lot to do with giving us the credibility that we needed to compete with the very best programs in the country. Thank you Charles. 

“”To the families of the student-athletes that I have coached over the course of my career, thank you for trusting me with your sons. Thank you for allowing me to try to make a difference in their lives, more than just on the basketball court. To my current players and their families I’ve got a special favor to ask you, please understand it’s time. I may not be there to coach your son on a daily basis, but I promise I will continue to be in their lives just as I would have been if I was their head coach this year. 

“”The support of the Auburn family has been the key. Whether it was building the best homecourt environment here in Neville Arena or taking the show on the road over the last several years. There has not been a better program in the country in large part because of our incredible Auburn family and that fanbase. The DNA of this program — it won’t be changing. I am incredibly confident for the future of this basketball program. To continue to recruit student-athletes that want to be coached, that want to be great and that want to continue to make history. Auburn is our home. Brandy and I our staying right here. 

“”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. That would’ve required leaving Auburn. Instead, the university has given me an opportunity to stay here and be Auburn’s senator. I need to focus now on being a great husband, being a great father, being the best grandfather I possibly can be at the same time as an ambassador at Auburn I’m going to do everything I can to keep helping Auburn be the very best version of what it possibly can be. Trying to lead, trying to be an Auburn man and let this continue to be the best everything school anywhere in the country.

“”I can promise you, when I can be at Neville Arena, Jordan-Hare, Plainsman Park and all of our venues, I’m going to be there. I’m going to try to stay off the refs and the umps as best I possibly can. But I’m going to be loud and I’m going to be proud. But for me now, it’s time to take off that jacket. That one that Brandy and my family encouraged me to put on. Pass that jacket on to somebody who is uniquely qualified to maintain the level of success of this basketball program. Auburn family, I truly love you. We truly love you. But I hope you understand. It’s time. War Eagle.”

You can watch Pearl’s entire message below:

Dear Auburn Family, I truly love you.@CoachBrucePearl x #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/xFJAEetMLv

— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) September 22, 2025