Bruce Pearl may have shown the NCAA that he’s rehabbed image and ready to do things the correct way.
Auburn hired Bruce Pearl as its new basketball coach Tuesday according to the schools official website. Pearl met with Auburn AD Jay Jacobs this week about the Tigers’ head coaching opening, and agreed to terms on Tuesday.
“I’m humbled and blessed to be back in the game that I love,” Pearl said. “I don’t know how long it will take, but it’s time to rebuild the Auburn basketball program, and bring it to a level of excellence so many of the other teams on campus enjoy.”
Pearl coached at Tennessee from 2005 through the 2011 season, taking all six of his teams to the NCAA Tournament. He’s been an ESPN basketball analyst the last several seasons.
Pearl was fired by Tennessee in 2011 due to a recruiting violation. The NCAA hit him with a 3-year “show cause” for lying to NCAA investigators. The penalty ends on August 23rd.