Relive Bruce Pearl’s rise and fall with Tennessee basketball (2005-11)

Former Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl is retiring after an 11-year run as the coach at Auburn, the school announced Sept. 22.

Pearl coached at Tennessee from 2005-11, elevating the program by going 145-61 and reaching the NCAA Tournament in each of his six seasons.

He was fired following the 2011 amid NCAA recruiting violations and a charge from the NCAA for unethical conduct for lying during the investigation into the recruiting violations. He received a three-year show-cause penalty in August 2011 for his transgressions.

Here’s a look at Pearl’s rise and fall at Tennessee.

March 25, 2005

Tennessee, searching for its replacement for fired men’s basketball coach Buzz Peterson, offers the job to Pearl after Milwaukee loses to Illinois in the Sweet 16. The 45-year old holds a career record of 317-84. He is the second fastest coach to reach 300 career wins in NCAA history.

March 28, 2005

Tennessee introduces Pearl as coach.

“In short order, he’ll have this town turned on its head,” athletic director Mike Hamilton says. “Today, Milwaukee is crying.”

Adds Pearl: “This is my dream to be able to come to a program like this.”

Nov. 18, 2005

Pearl coaches his first game at UT, a 106-83 victory over East Tennessee State at Thompson-Boling Arena.

“It was a really good night for Tennessee basketball in a lot of ways,” Pearl says.

Dec. 17, 2005

The Vols stun No. 6 Texas with a 95-78 win in Austin, Texas.

Pearl’s sixth game at UT creates national buzz. He feels the win gives his players confirmation his system is going to work.

“You know, a lot of stuff changed this year when coach Pearl came on the scene,” forward Major Wingate says after the game. “He gave us a lot of heart, and he’s going to lead us to a lot of victories.”

Dec. 19, 2005

The AP poll ranks UT No. 23. The Vols hadn’t been ranked since Feb. 19, 2001.

Jan. 8, 2006

Pearl wins his SEC debut, 76-69 at South Carolina. His record in SEC games as UT’s coach turned out to be 65-31.

Jan. 21, 2006

Pearl gets his first victory over Florida. UT beats the No. 2 Gators 80-76 at Thompson-Boling, thanks to Chris Lofton’s 29 points.

Feb. 7, 2006

No. 11 UT beats Kentucky 75-67 in Lexington, Kentucky. The Vols entered the game 3-27 at Rupp Arena since it opened in 1976-77. They left with their first win there since Jan. 12, 1999.

Feb. 22, 2006

No. 10 UT beats No. 12 Florida 76-72 in Gainesville, Florida. It was the first time UT swept a season series with Florida since 1999-2000 and clinched the Vols’ first SEC East title since 1999-2000.

March 12, 2006

UT receives a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament, the Vols’ highest seed ever.

March 16, 2006

Tennessee beats Winthrop 63-61 in Greensboro, North Carolina, on a Lofton buzzer-beater. It is UT’s first NCAA tournament win since 2000.

Dec. 6, 2006

UT beats No. 16 Memphis 76-58 at Thompson-Boling, Pearl’s first win against the in-state rival in his second attempt.

Jan. 22, 2007

A shirtless Pearl, bare chest painted orange, appears in the student section of the Lady Vols’ basketball game against Duke.

Feb. 27, 2007

UT beats No. 5 Florida 86-76 in Knoxville. A sellout crowd of 24,047 — including Peyton Manning — sees Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt wear a cheerleader’s uniform and sing Rocky Top during the game. The win cements the Vols’ first undefeated season in Thompson-Boling (16-0).

March 18, 2007

After dismissing No. 12 seed Long Beach State in the first round of the NCAA tournament, No. 5 UT beats No. 4 Virginia 77-74 in Columbus, Ohio, to earn its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2000.

March 22, 2007

Tennessee blows a 20-point lead and loses to No. 1 Ohio State 85-84 in San Antonio, Texas, in the Sweet 16.

Aug. 1, 2007

Between this day and July 29, 2009, the NCAA determined Pearl and his staff placed 94 impermissible phone calls to 12 prospects or their family members.

Feb. 23, 2008

No. 2 UT beats undefeated No. 1 Memphis 66-62 in Memphis, the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 game in school history. “We’re 40 minutes away from being No. 1,” Pearl told UT boosters before the game. Two days later, the AP poll ranked UT No. 1 for the first time in program history.

March 5, 2008

No. 4 UT rallies from a 13-point halftime deficit to beat Florida 89-86 in Gainesville. The fifth win against the Gators in six games secures UT’s first outright SEC championship since 1967.

March 27, 2008

After beating No. 15 seed American and No. 7 Butler in Birmingham, Alabama, No. 2 UT loses 79-60 to No. 3 Louisville in the Sweet 16 in Charlotte, North Carolina. UT’s winningest season ends at 31-5.

April 23, 2008

Pearl signs Scotty Hopson, the first McDonald’s All-American to ink with UT since Vincent Yarbrough in 1998.

Sept. 20, 2008

Pearl breaks NCAA rules by hosting unofficial visitors, including Ohio State prospect Aaron Craft, at a barbecue at his West Knoxville home. A photograph is taken of Pearl and Craft.

March 15, 2009

UT loses to Mississippi State 64-61 in its first SEC tournament championship game appearance since 1991.

March 20, 2009

Tyler Smith’s shot at the buzzer misses, and No. 9 seed UT loses 77-75 to Oklahoma State in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Dayton, Ohio.

Jan. 10, 2010

No. 16 UT beats No. 1 Kansas 76-68 at Thompson-Boling without Smith, who was dismissed after he was arrested on misdemeanor gun and drug charges. Cameron Tatum, Melvin Goins and Brian Williams, who were arrested with Smith, didn’t play either.

March 20, 2010

After beating No. 11 seed San Diego State, No. 6 UT beats No. 14 Ohio 83-68 in Providence, R.I., to secure a trip to the Sweet 16.

March 26, 2010

Tennessee beats No. 2 Ohio State 76-73 in St. Louis to advance to Elite Eight for first time in program history.

March 28, 2010

Tennessee loses to No. 5 Michigan State 70-69 in St. Louis, denying the Vols’ first trip to the Final Four.

“It’s going to stick with us,” guard Bobby Maze says. “Anytime we watch college games or during tournament time, we’ll always come back to that very moment where we were just too short.”

April 6, 2010

The NCAA enforcement staff receives an anonymous letter containing a photograph of Pearl and Craft at the 2008 barbecue.

June 14, 2010

Pearl and his assistants are untruthful to the NCAA about the photograph. Later, Pearl and his assistants discuss their interview with the NCAA, breaking NCAA rules. Pearl also calls Craft’s father, who attended the dinner, to discuss the investigation, breaking NCAA rules.

Aug. 5, 2010

Pearl provides truthful information to NCAA investigators, acknowledging he failed to furnish full and complete information relevant to the investigation when interviewed on June 14.

Sept. 10, 2010

Pearl acknowledges during a tearful press conference that he lied to investigators. UT issues Pearl a one-year off-campus recruiting ban, cuts his salary by $1.5 million over five years and terminates his contract. Pearl works without a signed contract moving forward.

Sept. 14, 2010

UT again draws negative attention when Pearl and assistant coach Tony Jones make impermissible off-campus contact with prospect Jordan Adams.

Nov. 18, 2010

SEC Commissioner Mike Slive sends a letter to Pearl, informing him he has been suspended for the Vols’ first eight SEC games.

Dec. 11, 2010

No. 11 Tennessee beats No. 3 Pittsburgh 83-76 in Pittsburgh, the high-water mark of Pearl’s final season with the Vols.

Jan. 8, 2011

Pearl begins his suspension; UT loses at Arkansas 68-65. The Vols go 5-3 under interim coach Jones. The results go on Pearl’s record.

March 16, 2011

Hamilton, during a radio interview with WNML, acknowledges it is not a given Pearl will return next season.

March 18, 2011

Pearl’s final game is a blowout loss. No. 9 seed UT loses 75-45 to No. 8 Michigan in a first-round NCAA tournament game in Charlotte.

March 21, 2011

Tennessee fires Pearl. In six seasons, the Vols go 145-61 and average 25.2 wins per season.

Aug. 24, 2011

The NCAA announces UT failed to monitor its basketball program. Penalties include a three-year show cause penalty for Pearl, along with two years of probation for the Vols.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Relive Bruce Pearl’s rise and fall with Tennessee basketball (2005-11)

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