(WFRV) — Former University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl has reportedly announced his retirement after an 11-year tenure at Auburn.
Pearl coached UWM from 2001 to 2005, compiling an 86-38 record and leading the Panthers to two NCAA Tournament appearances. His tenure included a Cinderella run to the Sweet 16 in 2005, when the 12-seed Panthers upset fifth-seeded Alabama 83-73 and fourth-seeded Boston College 83-75 before falling to top-seeded Illinois 77-63 in the Chicago Regional Semifinal.
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That Panthers team featured standout guard Ed McCants, who averaged 17.4 points per game, along with key contributions from Joah Tucker, Boo Davis, Adrian Tigert, and Chris Hill.
After leaving Milwaukee, Pearl coached Tennessee from 2005 to 2011, leading the Volunteers to six straight NCAA Tournament appearances and one SEC regular-season title.
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He took over at Auburn in 2014, guiding the Tigers to several memorable seasons. In 2019, Auburn won the SEC Tournament title and reached the Final Four, where they fell to eventual national champion Virginia. His final season in 2025 also ended with a Final Four appearance, this time losing to Florida, who went on to win the championship.
Pearl’s career accolades include three Horizon League Coach of the Year awards, four SEC Coach of the Year honors, and one AP National Coach of the Year award. He coached three consensus All-Americans: Chris Lofton (2007-08), Jabari Smith (2022), and Johni Broome (2025).
