AUBURN, Ala. – Bruce Pearl’s illustrious coaching career officially came to an end Nov. 7, when the Tigers faced Baylor. “You can say God’s got a plan or you can actually believe it,” Pearl said, referring to his longest previous head coaching stint of nine seasons at Southern Indiana from 1992 to 2001. “I go to work every day trying to reward Auburn for giving me and my family the opportunity of a lifetime.” Pearl has rewarded Auburn with three Southeastern Conference championships in the past six seasons, the program’s first No. 1 ranking, and the only NCAA Tournament Final Four appearance of any team from Alabama.

“Starting something is easier than maintaining it,” he remarked. “Every year, I want to compete for championships.”

Keeping in mind the basketball legacy of Auburn, Pearl hopes to surpass Joel Eaves as the Tigers’ all-time winningest coach.

“I would like that if we can, but it will take a few more years of success to do that,” stated Pearl, who has 182 Auburn victories to his credit this season—just 31 fewer than Eaves’ 213.

Auburn students have responded to Pearl’s persistent and innovative outreach since his arrival on the Plains on March 18, 2014, by filling The Jungle, their courtside area, hours before every game.

According to Pearl, “our student body has distinguished itself in the world of intercollegiate athletes.” “Our students are the envy of all college athletes with what they bring to Jordan-Hare and Neville Arena.”

Because of our team’s calibre and our supporters’ fervour and ferocity, Neville Arena may have the toughest atmosphere in college basketball.

Success on the court only partially reveals Pearl’s influence. Over $1 million has been raised for Children’s Harbour through his yearly golf tournament, and over $1 million has been raised for local cancer patients through his AUTLIVE programme.

The musical “We’ll Meet Again” will tour the South in 2023, with sponsorship from the Bruce Pearl Family Foundation. BP, as his friends and admirers call him, is also co-chair of Auburn University’s Together We Will scholarship campaign, which aims to provide financial assistance to a diverse student body.

According to Scripture, “To whom much is given, much is expected,” Pearl stated. We are compelled to give back because we feel so fortunate and supported. I want to serve more and more as I become older.

During his first six years at Auburn, Pearl befriended former head football coach Pat Dye and emulated his attitude towards campus and community involvement.

Pearl stated, “It was the right decision if it was good for Auburn.”

In addition to securing 2022 national defensive player of the year Walker Kessler and current Tigers Johni Broome, K.D. Johnson, Denver Jones, Chad Baker-Mazara, and Chaney Johnson, Pearl has adapted to the transfer portal era by scouting some of the nation’s top high school prospects and future NBA first-round draft choices, such as Jabari Smith and Isaac Okoro.

Pearl declared, “We’re going to make the most of it now that it’s here.”

Following an NCAA name, image, and likeness policy revision in 2021, the collective that supports Auburn student-athletes, On To Victory, was established.