Bruce Pearl is a retired American college basketball coach renowned for his success across multiple programs, culminating in a 30-year head coaching career with a 694-270 record (.721 winning percentage).[3][4] A Boston native, he graduated cum laude from Boston College in 1982 with a business administration degree and began coaching as a student assistant under Tom Davis, contributing to Big East titles and deep NCAA runs at BC and Iowa.[1][2] Pearl launched his head coaching tenure at NCAA Division II Southern Indiana (1992-2001), posting a 231-46 record (.834), winning four Great Lakes Valley Conference titles, securing a 1995 national championship and 1994 runner-up finish, and earning nine NCAA bids with six Sweet 16 appearances.[1][5] He advanced to Division I at Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2001-2005), achieving an 86-38 mark, two Horizon League regular-season crowns, two tournament titles, and a landmark 2005 Sweet 16.[1][3] At Tennessee (2005-2011), Pearl compiled 145-61, led the Volunteers to No. 1 ranking in 2008—the first for an SEC men's basketball team—and multiple NCAA appearances before departing amid NCAA investigations.[2][3] Hired by Auburn in 2014, he transformed the Tigers into a powerhouse over 11 seasons, amassing 246-125 to become the program's winningest coach.[3][4] Achievements included three SEC regular-season titles (2018, 2022, 2025), two SEC Tournament crowns (2019, 2024), a No. 1 ranking in 2022, and six NCAA berths, highlighted by historic Final Four runs in 2019 (first in school history) and 2025 after upsetting top programs like Kansas and Kentucky.[3][4] Pearl guided teams to the NCAA Tournament 22 times (23 absent 2020 cancellation), ranking No. 11 among active Division I coaches in wins upon retirement.[2][4] He retired on September 22, 2025, following Auburn's 2025 Final Four loss, capping a legacy of postseason excellence and program elevation.[3][6]