While he may have had an inkling in recent years, not even Steven Pearl knew that his dad was going to officially step down at Auburn until the day before their first practice this fall.
But now, several weeks after Bruce Pearl officially retired from the Tigers, the younger Pearl is settling into his new role leading the program.
Advertisement
[Yahoo Sports TV is here! Watch live shows and highlights 24/7]
“It didn’t hit me until I showed up at the gym and [my dad] was filming his goodbye video and [athletic director John Cohen] pulled me aside and he was like, ‘Hey, you’re the guy,’” Steven said Wednesday from the SEC’s media days, via ESPN. “So then I was like, ‘All right, here we go. Let’s go.’
“It all happened really fast, but I’m glad I spent 38 years watching [my dad] do this.”
Bruce spent 11 seasons at Auburn, and he undoubtedly helped turn the longtime football school into a basketball powerhouse in the SEC. He led the team to a pair of Final Four runs, including last season, six NCAA tournament appearances and three regular season conference titles. He went 246-125 there in what was his third coaching stop, following runs at Tennessee and Milwaukee.
After Bruce Pearl (left) suddenly retired as Auburn men’s basketball coach, his son, former assistant Steven Pearl (right) takes over the program. (Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
There had been speculation in recent months that Bruce was going to retire. Some thought he was going to run for the U.S. Senate in Alabama, though he shut that down. Almost immediately after Bruce made his retirement official last month, Auburn announced its succession plan and hired Steven on a five-year deal. Steven, 38, was an assistant on Bruce’s staff since 2017, and he played for his dad at Tennessee.
“The DNA of this program, it won’t be changing,” Bruce said last month. “I am incredibly confident in the future of this basketball program.”
While Steven wasn’t aware ahead of time, he said that Bruce and Cohen had been having conversations about this for years.
Advertisement
“Three years ago, [my dad] told him, like, ‘Listen, I don’t know how much longer I’m going to do this,'” Steven said. “So [Cohen] has been actively, in his mind, being prepared for this for three years now and going through all the different options of, ‘Do I bring in an outside coaching staff? Do I bring in a big-name guy or watch this grow? Does the staff grow as a unit and stay together and not go chasing other assistant jobs, not go chasing other coaching jobs?’
“And he ultimately felt like the staff had earned the right and the opportunity to continue to move this thing forward.”
The Tigers, who will start the season out at No. 20 in the Associated Press’ preseason poll, will officially open their season on Nov. 3 against Bethune-Cookman. Their first true test will come against No. 2 Houston on Nov. 16.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Driver-less McIlroy makes solid start in India as Lowry leads
Rory McIlroy made a decent start to his first tournament since Europe's Ryder Cup victory with a three-under 69 at the DP World India Championship as Shane Lowry claimed the opening-round lead after shooting a sparkling 64.McIlroy, after opting to leave the driver out of his bag, registered six birdies and three bogeys at Delhi Golf Club on Thursday and finds himself five shots adrift of Ryder Cup team-mate Lowry. Lowry - whose putt at Bethpage Black last month ensured the Ryder Cup would remain in European hands - peeled off eight birdies, including five in a row between 11 and 15, on a blemish-free day and holds a one-stroke advantage over Japan's Keita Nakajima.Another European Ryder Cup hero, Tommy Fleetwood, signed for a four-under 68 - his highlight holing out from a bunker for eagle at 14 - with […]
NFL Week 7 fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em
Rashee Rice is set to return — and see a heavy workload: Rice, suspended for the season's first six games, is back and will be a high-end WR2 for Week 7. Fear not, Breece Hall managers: Hall should be among the league leaders in touches this week, although the Jets’ struggling offense is still a pain point. In an average matchup, he is a high-end RB2. Estimated Reading Time: 26 minutes I asked fantasy managers on the PFF Discord and Bluesky which players they are least sure about this week, and I compiled that list and ranked them against one another. If you have multiple players mentioned, you should start with the player ranked highest. At the bottom of each position, you'll find players to start in place of the featured players and those to sit in favor of them. […]
Neto elege pior em campo e dispara após Santos x Corinthians: ‘Vergonha’
Neto em apresentação do jogo Santos x Corinthians. Foto Reprodução.O Corinthians voltou a decepcionar o torcedor. O time foi dominado e perdeu por 3 a 1 para o Santos, nesta quarta-feira (15), na Vila Belmiro, pela 28ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. A atuação fraca gerou revolta em um dos maiores ídolos do clube: Neto. Durante a transmissão da Rádio Craque Neto, o ex-jogador não poupou críticas e elegeu o pior em campo. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADELogo após o apito final, Neto se mostrou inconformado com o desempenho coletivo e individual do Corinthians. Para ele, Breno Bidon foi o principal responsável pela má atuação. O ex-meia também criticou Memphis Depay e o técnico Dorival Júnior, apontando falta de vontade e desorganização.“Pra mim, o pé de rato foi o Breno Bidon. Você é um cara que elogiamos muito no Donos da Bola, mas foi […]
Alcaraz defends exhibition events as a relief from ATP Tour grind
Carlos Alcaraz has defended the lucrative Six Kings Slam exhibition event as a relief from the tour grind after previously saying he would consider skipping ATP Tour events to prioritise his health due to a crowded schedule.The men's and women's circuits, which run across 11 months with extended formats at several tournaments, have come under fresh scrutiny during the "Asian swing", where extreme heat and humidity contributed to a spate of injuries and withdrawals. The Professional Tennis Players' Association filed a lawsuit against the sport's governing bodies in March, calling the scheduling situation "unsustainable". Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Highlights from the Japan Open final match between Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz After winning the Tokyo title last month despite playing with an ankle injury, Alcaraz withdrew from the next event in Shanghai, saying he […]
Muscat in talks over Rangers head coach job
Rangers are holding further talks with Kevin Muscat and his club Shanghai Port as they look to appoint a new head coach.Sky Sports News revealed on Wednesday that the 52-year-old was emerging as the frontrunner for the job. While Ibrox sources insist Muscat is not their only candidate, Rangers are locked in discussions with the Australian and his club, who are currently involved in a title race in China.Muscat's side are two points clear at the top of the table, with the last of their four remaining league games scheduled for November 22.If compensation between the clubs and personal terms with Muscat are agreed, his current situation could mean he can't depart for Ibrox until Shanghai Port's title race concludes. Image: Muscat has won trophies as a boss in China, Japan and Australia Rangers could then appoint an interim boss, […]
Muscat in talks over Rangers head coach job
Rangers are holding further talks with Kevin Muscat and his club Shanghai Port as they look to appoint a new head coach.Sky Sports News revealed on Wednesday that the 52-year-old was emerging as the frontrunner for the job. While Ibrox sources insist Muscat is not their only candidate, Rangers are locked in discussions with the Australian and his club, who are currently involved in a title race in China.Muscat's side are two points clear at the top of the table, with the last of their four remaining league games scheduled for November 22.If compensation between the clubs and personal terms with Muscat are agreed, his current situation could mean he can't depart for Ibrox until Shanghai Port's title race concludes. Image: Muscat has won trophies as a boss in China, Japan and Australia Rangers could then appoint an interim boss, […]
Related
NFL Week 7 fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em
Rashee Rice is set to return — and see a heavy workload: Rice, suspended for the season's first six games, is back and will be a high-end WR2 for Week 7. Fear not, Breece Hall managers: Hall should be among the league leaders in touches this week, although the Jets’ struggling offense is still a pain point. In an average matchup, he is a high-end RB2. Estimated Reading Time: 26 minutes I asked fantasy managers on the PFF Discord and Bluesky which players they are least sure about this week, and I compiled that list and ranked them against one another. If you have multiple players mentioned, you should start with the player ranked highest. At the bottom of each position, you'll find players to start in place of the featured players and those to sit in favor of them. […]
Driver-less McIlroy makes solid start in India as Lowry leads
Rory McIlroy made a decent start to his first tournament since Europe's Ryder Cup victory with a three-under 69 at the DP World India Championship as Shane Lowry claimed the opening-round lead after shooting a sparkling 64.McIlroy, after opting to leave the driver out of his bag, registered six birdies and three bogeys at Delhi Golf Club on Thursday and finds himself five shots adrift of Ryder Cup team-mate Lowry. Lowry - whose putt at Bethpage Black last month ensured the Ryder Cup would remain in European hands - peeled off eight birdies, including five in a row between 11 and 15, on a blemish-free day and holds a one-stroke advantage over Japan's Keita Nakajima.Another European Ryder Cup hero, Tommy Fleetwood, signed for a four-under 68 - his highlight holing out from a bunker for eagle at 14 - with […]
Neto elege pior em campo e dispara após Santos x Corinthians: ‘Vergonha’
Neto em apresentação do jogo Santos x Corinthians. Foto Reprodução.O Corinthians voltou a decepcionar o torcedor. O time foi dominado e perdeu por 3 a 1 para o Santos, nesta quarta-feira (15), na Vila Belmiro, pela 28ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. A atuação fraca gerou revolta em um dos maiores ídolos do clube: Neto. Durante a transmissão da Rádio Craque Neto, o ex-jogador não poupou críticas e elegeu o pior em campo. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADELogo após o apito final, Neto se mostrou inconformado com o desempenho coletivo e individual do Corinthians. Para ele, Breno Bidon foi o principal responsável pela má atuação. O ex-meia também criticou Memphis Depay e o técnico Dorival Júnior, apontando falta de vontade e desorganização.“Pra mim, o pé de rato foi o Breno Bidon. Você é um cara que elogiamos muito no Donos da Bola, mas foi […]
Alcaraz defends exhibition events as a relief from ATP Tour grind
Carlos Alcaraz has defended the lucrative Six Kings Slam exhibition event as a relief from the tour grind after previously saying he would consider skipping ATP Tour events to prioritise his health due to a crowded schedule.The men's and women's circuits, which run across 11 months with extended formats at several tournaments, have come under fresh scrutiny during the "Asian swing", where extreme heat and humidity contributed to a spate of injuries and withdrawals. The Professional Tennis Players' Association filed a lawsuit against the sport's governing bodies in March, calling the scheduling situation "unsustainable". Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Highlights from the Japan Open final match between Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz After winning the Tokyo title last month despite playing with an ankle injury, Alcaraz withdrew from the next event in Shanghai, saying he […]
Muscat in talks over Rangers head coach job
Rangers are holding further talks with Kevin Muscat and his club Shanghai Port as they look to appoint a new head coach.Sky Sports News revealed on Wednesday that the 52-year-old was emerging as the frontrunner for the job. While Ibrox sources insist Muscat is not their only candidate, Rangers are locked in discussions with the Australian and his club, who are currently involved in a title race in China.Muscat's side are two points clear at the top of the table, with the last of their four remaining league games scheduled for November 22.If compensation between the clubs and personal terms with Muscat are agreed, his current situation could mean he can't depart for Ibrox until Shanghai Port's title race concludes. Image: Muscat has won trophies as a boss in China, Japan and Australia Rangers could then appoint an interim boss, […]
Muscat in talks over Rangers head coach job
Rangers are holding further talks with Kevin Muscat and his club Shanghai Port as they look to appoint a new head coach.Sky Sports News revealed on Wednesday that the 52-year-old was emerging as the frontrunner for the job. While Ibrox sources insist Muscat is not their only candidate, Rangers are locked in discussions with the Australian and his club, who are currently involved in a title race in China.Muscat's side are two points clear at the top of the table, with the last of their four remaining league games scheduled for November 22.If compensation between the clubs and personal terms with Muscat are agreed, his current situation could mean he can't depart for Ibrox until Shanghai Port's title race concludes. Image: Muscat has won trophies as a boss in China, Japan and Australia Rangers could then appoint an interim boss, […]
Be the first to leave a comment