Auburn promotes Steven Pearl to associate head coach

Auburn assistant coach Steven Pearl, the son of head coach Bruce Pearl, has been promoted to the role of associate head coach, the school announced Tuesday.

Steven Pearl has been on the Auburn staff since 2014 and as a front-of-the-bench assistant since 2017. He was first an assistant strength and conditioning coach for a season before two years as the program’s director of basketball operations.

“I am so incredibly grateful for this opportunity and the trust so many people here at Auburn have put in me,” Steven Pearl said in a statement. “To BP, our administration, the board, our amazing coaching staff, our student-athletes, supporters of our program and the Auburn Family at large – thank you for this honor. I recognize how privileged I am to be able to come to work every day for the Auburn men’s basketball program, and I do not take that for granted.”

He has been an assistant coach ever since. His roles include scouting, defensive strategies, play calling and developing some of the Tigers big men.

Pearl has also led the team’s efforts in the transfer portal in recent seasons.

“Steven has been an integral part of the success that we’ve had at Auburn from the beginning,” Bruce Pearl said in a statement. “Many people may forget that he started as an assistant strength coach and worked his way up through our program. He has been able to recruit and coach at a very high level. His ability to communicate and teach our system to our players is second to none. He is truly one of the best assistant coaches in the country and has earned this promotion.”

Bruce Pearl is 187–111 during his time with the Tigers, which started in 2014. The team has made four NCAA Tournaments and one Final Four.

He played his basketball for his father at Tennessee. The 6-foot-5 Pearl played in 101 games with the Volunteers, averaging 8.4 minutes and 1.2 points per game. Three teams he was on made at least the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. He played in 31 games as a junior and 34 games as a senior.

“He is a younger version of me,” Bruce Pearl said. “He has been able to stay up-to-date on the game, recruiting and technology. He has a knack for finding talent, especially in the age of the transfer portal. This decision has the full support of our coaching staff and the administration.”