Auburn coach Bruce Pearl’s abrupt retirement as its men’s basketball coach on Monday — just 42 days out from its season-opener — might come as a surprise to those who have followed Pearl at arm’s length in recent years.
It is not, however, a surprise to many who have followed closely Pearl’s evolving passions in recent years.
The 65-year-old Pearl in recent months has openly flirted with the idea of staging a run in the political realm, made possible by Tommy Tuberville’s recent decision to vacate his Alabama Senate seat to run for governor. That has coincided with posts shared with increasing frequency on Pearl’s own social media related to politics, the war in Gaza, his Jewish heritage and his support of President Donald Trump.
Pearl on Monday swatted down those rumors of an imminent political run, at least for now, in announcing his retirement as basketball coach. His son, Steven, will take over. The elder Pearl will transition into an ambassador’s role in the athletic department as special assistant to the athletic director. Bruce has a few months to change his mind; Alabama’s primary election for the 2026 mid-terms is May 19. Pearl would need at least a few months of runway to establish himself as a legitimate political candidate, though he would conceivably benefit from immense visibility in the Yellowhammer State.
Bruce Pearl retires: Auburn coach abruptly steps down after 11-year tenure, greatest run in program history
Matt Norlander
In a 14-minute long video shared by Auburn on Monday, Pearl…
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