It’s been an emotional day for the Auburn men’s basketball program and its fans with the announcement of Bruce Pearl’s retirement on Monday, Sept. 23.
The announcement came after the Tigers‘ best season since 2019 as Pearl led Auburn to its second ever Final Four. The 2024-25 campaign saw Auburn win at least 30 games for just the second time in the Pearl era. That coincided with its fifth SEC championship under Pearl, as well as its first-ever designation as the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.
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Although Pearl will no longer be in charge of the men’s basketball program, the former Auburn coach will move into an ambassador role in the athletic department as special assistant to the athletic director, he and the school announced on Monday.
PEARL STEPPING DOWN; Auburn basketball’s Bruce Pearl stepping down ahead of 2025-26 season
WATCH PEARL ANNOUNCE RETIREMENT: Watch: Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl’s emotional, 14-minute retirement announcement
“Auburn is our home. Brandy and I are staying right here. Many of you know that I thought and prayed about maybe running for the United State Senate. Maybe to be the next great senator from the State of Alabama. That would’ve required leaving Auburn. And instead, the University has given me an opportunity to stay here and be Auburn’s senator,” Pearl said in an emotional 14-minute video announcing his retirement.
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“I need to focus now on being a great husband, being a great father, being the best grandfather I possibly can be. At the same time, as an ambassador at Auburn, I’m going to do everything I can to keep helping Auburn be the very best version of what it possibly can be. Trying to lead, trying to be an Auburn man and let this continue to be the best Everything School anywhere in the country. And I can promise you that when I can be at Neville Arena, Jordan-Hare, Plainsman Park and all of our venues, I’m going to be there. I’m going to try to stay off the refs and the umps as best I possibly can but I’m going to be loud and I’m going to be proud,” Pearl said.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Bruce Pearl retirement: Set to take new role with Auburn athletics
