AUBURN — Bruce Pearl‘s time as a “surefire” Hall-of-Famer could soon end.
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Friday, Dec. 19, that the former Auburn basketball coach was among its contingent of newly eligible candidates for induction. He’s part of a nine-candidate contingent of first-time appearances that includes Blake Griffin, Candace Parker, Joe Johnson and Houston coach Kelvin Sampson, among others.
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“The candidates for the Class of 2026 have each left an indelible impact on the game of basketball,” Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame President and CEO John L. Doleva said in a release. “Through defining performances, influential leadership, and achievements that helped elevate the sport on the national and international stage, this year’s ballot recognizes those whose legacy continues to shape how the game is played, coached, and celebrated.”
Finalists for enshrinement will be announced at a later date, according to a release, with the entire Class of 2026 unveiled April 4, 2026. Times and broadcast networks for finalists and class announcements will be released Feb. 9, 2026.
Enshrinement weekend will begin Aug. 14, 2026, at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, followed by an enshrinement ceremony the next day in Springfield, Massachusetts.
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Pearl’s career as a college basketball only just ended, as he and the program announced his retirement in September. His 11-season stint on the Plains was undoubtedly the high point of the program’s 119-year history. He departed as the program’s winningest coach ever, with a 246-125 record on the Plains.
His final record after three-plus decades as a college basketball head coach sits at 708-269. Pearl’s 708 victories were the 10th-most among active Division I head coaches at the time of his retirement, trailing the likes of Arkansas’ John Calipari, Kansas’ Bill Self, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and several others.
Adam Cole is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at acole@gannett.com or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @colereporter. To support Adam’s work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Former Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl eligible for Naismith HOF
