Auburn gives Steven Pearl new five-year deal as long-term head coach

Steven Pearl is not the interim head coach at Auburn, stepping in for the newly retired Bruce Pearl just weeks before the start of the regular season as the program decides on a long-term successor. The son of the Tigers’ all-time winningest coach isn’t a temporary fill-in, nor is his debut leading the team in 2025-26 a tryout for a long-term agreement next offseason.

Auburn has locked in Steven Pearl for the next half-decade, signing a five-year deal with the school after spending the previous 11 seasons on the Auburn staff — including associate head coach the past two years. Leading the program’s recruiting efforts in both high school and the transfer portal, defensive strategies, in-game play calling, opponent scouting and player development, the 38-year-old already wore many hats for the Tigers.

Now he’s in charge of the biggest hat as the program’s 22nd head coach in history.

“We’re not starting over — we’re building forward, with the same principles that have made Auburn Basketball elite. I’m honored to lead this program, and I’m ready to rise to the moment,” Pearl said in a statement.

Auburn AD John Cohen said Bruce Pearl made it clear his coaching days were numbered when he first joined the program three years ago and started an internal national search to prepare for this day. One name emerged as the obvious choice to replace the winningest coach in program history.

“Throughout our detailed process, it became obvious to me and our staff that Steven Pearl was clearly the best fit for Auburn. His expertise in coaching defense, his skills as an evaluator, recruiter, teacher and motivator, and his relationships with our student-athletes and staff were paramount,” Cohen said. “As the associate head coach on what I consider to be one of the elite coaching staffs in college basketball, Steven has played a prominent role in Auburn’s unprecedented success.”

The eldest Pearl, who started at Auburn in 2014 and led the Tigers to a 244-123 overall record with six NCAA Tournament appearances and two Final Fours, believes his son is the man for the job.

In fact, he’s confident Steven will be better and tougher taking his spot after passing on other opportunities to wait for this one.

“There is nobody more qualified or in a position to maintain our culture of faith, family and doing it the Auburn way than Steven. He’s actually tougher than I am, and just as competitive!” Pearl said of his son. “Out of loyalty to Auburn and me, Steven passed on several previous chances to pursue head coaching opportunities, choosing instead to invest in our men’s basketball program and help it reach unprecedented heights. He has worked tirelessly and been instrumental in the success of our program over the last 11 years.

“We would not have been in the position to make two Final Fours, win five SEC Championships and win as many games as we have if it wasn’t for Steven and this staff. I am so pleased that the DNA of this program won’t be changing.”

Steven Pearl didn’t just get a test drive leading the Auburn program; he got tossed the keys and has been told to floor it on the Plains.