Bruce Pearl

Bruce Pearl is the former head coach of the Auburn Tigers men's basketball team. Pearl led Auburn for 11 years, assuming the position after a coaching hiatus during which he worked as a college basketball analyst for ESPN. During his tenure, he guided the Tigers to 234 wins, the program’s first No. 1 ranking in both national polls, and two NCAA Final Four appearances. Auburn achieved its first No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament and set a school record with 32 wins under Pearl's leadership. He earned SEC Coach of the Year and NABCA Division I Coach of the Year honors during his time at Auburn. In 2025, he retired as head coach and took an ambassador's role as special assistant to the athletics director.

Before joining ESPN, Pearl served as head coach at Tennessee for six years, where his teams reached the NCAA tournament each season, including three Sweet 16 appearances. He became the first coach to lead the Volunteers to a No. 1 national ranking. Pearl was recognized as the Adolph Rupp National Coach of the Year and received SEC Coach of the Year honors multiple times. His coaching career also includes leading UW-Milwaukee to its first NCAA tournament appearances and guiding Southern Indiana to a Division II national championship, earning NABC Division II Coach of the Year.

Pearl’s career includes 14 NCAA tournament appearances as a Division I head coach, four conference championships, and four conference tournament championships. He is the only head coach in SEC history to lead two programs to a No. 1 national ranking and ranks among the top five all-time SEC coaches in overall victories. Pearl was named Co-AP Coach of the Year during his career.

Pearl graduated from Boston College, where he served as manager of the men's basketball team. He is known for rebuilding basketball programs, developing NBA talent, and delivering keynote addresses on leadership and perseverance.