Former UT Coach Bruce Pearl Retires

A former UT basketball coach is calling it a career. Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl announced on Monday that he was retiring after taking Auburn to the final four last year. Auburn hired Pearl in 2014 to take over a Tigers’ program that had not been to hte NCAA tournament in 10 years. Pearl turned the program around and has had the Tigers in the NCAA Tournament for six of the past seven seasons and that includes two final four appearances. Pearl finishes his career at Auburn as the winningest coach in program history.

Bruce Pearl coached the Tennessee Vols for six seasons, from 2005-2011. The Vols made the NCAA Tournament each year under his guidance. However UT fired Pearl after the 2011 season when allegations of NCAA violations surfaced. Steven Pearl, Bruce Pearl’s son, who played for his father during his time at Tennessee, will now take over as head coach at Auburn. Bruce Pearl is not completely stepping away, he will move into a role as an assistant to the athletic director. Pearl finishes his career with a record of 706–268.