Bruce Pearl had an incredible career as a college basketball coach. He spent 21 years as a head coach at three different Division I schools. In total, he led his teams to 14 NCAA Tournament appearances and two trips to the Final Four.
After spending four years with Milwaukee, Pearl went to the SEC to become the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers. In six years there, he had a record of 145-61, as Tennessee made the tournament in each season and won one SEC regular-season title.
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The 65-year-old’s most notable stop came during his 11-year tenure with the Auburn Tigers. There, he went 234-125 with six tournament appearances, three SEC regular-season crowns and two SEC Tournament championships.
Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl reacts after a play against the Florida Gators.Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
On Sept. 22, Pearl announced his retirement from the head coaching job at Auburn, going out as the winningest coach in program history. This came after he led the Tigers to the Final Four in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, falling to the eventual national champion Florida Gators.
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“I’ve been a part of college basketball for almost 50 years, and the truth is, it’s time,” Pearl said, per ESPN. “I told myself when I got to the point where I could not give it my all, or I wasn’t necessarily 100 percent, or I couldn’t be the relentless competitor that [Auburn fans] expected of me, that it was going to be time.”
On Thursday, the next chapter of Pearl’s career was announced, as TNT Sports released its college basketball studio team for the 2025-26 season, and Pearl was one of the analysts listed.
Pearl responded to this career news, which comes less than a month after he announced he was leaving Auburn, on his X account.
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“Excited to be apart of this incredibly talented group, showcasing college basketball,” Pearl wrote. “The quality of our game right now has never been better. There are dozens of teams capable of making a Final Four run and we are going to bring ALL THAT ACTION!”
With this next stage in Pearl’s career set to begin, it will be interesting to see how he fares as an analyst rather than on the sidelines. The upcoming season tips off on Nov. 3, as Pearl’s former team will take on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Oct 16, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Basketball section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
