What Rick Barnes said about Bruce Pearl's sudden retirement

Rick Barnes didn’t come out and say he knew Bruce Pearl was planning to retire as Auburn’s men’s basketball coach. But he did get some hints in some recent conversations. 

“Bruce and I spoke last week,” Barnes said on Tuesday, “he sort of led me into his intentions and what he was thinking about doing. And I’m happy for him. I really am.”

Pearl announced his retirement on Monday, the same day Auburn started preseason practice, with the Tigers hiring longtime assistant coach Steven Pearl as head coach to replace his father. 

Bruce Pearl went 145-61 in six seasons at Tennessee

Pearl went 244-123 in 11 seasons at Auburn, taking the Tigers to the Final Four last season and in 2019. He took Auburn to four other NCAA Tournaments, losing once in the first round and three times in the second round. 

He went 145-61 in six seasons as Tennessee’s head coach, from 2005 to 2011. He won 22 games in his first seasons, 24 in 2006-07, then 31 in 2007-08, setting a new program record for single season wins. He took the Vols to six NCAA Tournaments, including Sweet Sixteens in 2007 and 2008 and the program’s first Elite Eight appearance in 2010. 

Pearl spent nine seasons at Southern Indiana and four at Milwaukee before getting the Tennessee job. He finished his career with 706 wins.

“He felt it was time and I certainly respect that,” Barnes said. “You look at him everywhere he’s been, he’s built a winning program, has done a great job and I think Steven will do a great job.”  

Barnes had a 7-9 record against Auburn, including the 70-65 win over the Tigers in their last meeting in the SEC Tournament semifinals last March. Pearl went 9-8 in 17 career games against the Vols. 

‘There’s no doubt he’s going to continue to do a great job’

Steven Pearl played for his father at Tennessee from 2007-11, averaging 1.2 points and 1.1 rebounds in 8.4 minutes per game over 101 career games.

“You can’t live with someone like Bruce,” Barnes said of Steven Pearl, “and not understand the game, being around the game. I think that over the years as I’ve grown up and matured every year, I think I could tell you from the first time I met Steven, the same thing. 

“I will say that about all the coaches on my staff as I watch them grow. And I think Steven has worked hard, and I think the fact that Auburn has given him this opportunity speaks volumes of what they think of him.”

Steven Pearl has been an assistant at Auburn since 2017 and was the associate head coach for the Tigers the last two seasons. 

“I think that Bruce, obviously over the last couple of years probably didn’t make any decisions in the program that he didn’t sit down with Steven to talk about,” Barnes said. “This is something that I knew that he wanted and I’m happy for him. I’m happy for Steven. And there’s no doubt he’s going to continue to do a great job.”