Bruce Pearl is retiring from Auburn in a college hoops bombshell shortly before the season begins.
The 65-year-old is walking away after leading the program he revitalized to its second-ever Final Four last season, he announced Monday in an emotional video.
His son Steve, the team’s associate head coach, is taking over as the team’s head coach.
“I’ve been a part of college basketball for almost 50 years, and the truth is, it’s time,” Pearl said in the video. “I told myself that when I got to the point where I could not give it my all, where I wasn’t necessarily 100 percent or I couldn’t be the relentless competitor that you expected of me, then it was going to be time. And as hard as it is to say this, I reached the realization that it’s time to step aside.”
Pearl has coached Auburn for the last 11 seasons, leading them to the NCAA Tournament six times.
He led the Tigers to their first Final Four appearance in 2019.
Auburn earned the top overall seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament after going 28-5 with a 15-3 mark in conference play.
Pearl earned co-national coach of the year honors, sharing the award with St. John’s Rick Pitino.
The Tigers fell in the Final Four to eventual national champion Florida.
Pearl recently told reporters he’s thought about running for office, as Tommy Tuberville’s U.S. Senate seat will be open as he runs for governor of Alabama.
However, while Pearl acknowledged he considered running for Senate, he says he’s taking on an ambassador role with Auburn.
Before joining Auburn, Pearl coached Tennessee for six seasons, reaching March Madness in all six seasons while making the Sweet 16 three times and the Elite Eight once.
Pearl was fired by Tennessee in 2011 for lying to the NCAA during an investigation into recruiting violations.
Before he went to Tennessee, Pearl led Milwaukee to two NCAA Tournament appearances in four years after coaching Division II Southern Indiana for nine seasons, during which he won a national title.
The college basketball season tips off in six weeks.
