AUBURN, Ala. – When Bruce Pearl called to gauge Ira Bowman's interest in the vacant assistant coach position on the Auburn basketball staff, it wasn't a huge surprise. Bowman had received overtures from other schools in the past, hoping to lure him away from Penn.
But Bowman is a Penn guy through and through. He played two seasons for the Quakers and was named the Ivy League Player of the Year in 1996. After playing professionally in the NBA and overseas, he got into coaching as an assistant at NJIT. Then, four years later, he returned to his alma mater where he's been an assistant coach the past six years.
So why Auburn? Why say yes to Pearl?
"Just because of the challenge," Bowman said. "Obviously being here in the SEC in a Power Five conference. I knew a couple of the kids here that I've recruited a little bit. It's an opportunity to make history on the basketball side here at Auburn."
The decision was made easier knowing that Bowman is leaving Penn in good shape. Like Auburn, the Quakers won their conference last season for the first time in over a decade. Thanks in large part to Bowman's efforts, there's a solid foundation that's been laid and a number of recruits that are coming in or already committed.
This was as good a time as any to leave, and after seeing what Auburn did last season and with the team that's coming back, Bowman knew he could be part of something special.
"Any time there's success, it brings attention," he said. "You know the amount of work that it takes to get the program to this point and know what type of work it's going to take to sustain it or even take the next step. That, the challenge in itself, was something that really intrigued me and obviously was something that I felt was good for me, especially at this time in my career."
Though Bowman has spent most of his life in the Northeast, he has some familiarity with this current Auburn roster. Both Horace Spencer and Samir Doughty are from the Philadelphia area, which is where Penn is located. And Jared Harper is a guy that Bowman tried to recruit to Penn since Harper was a freshman in high school.
Bowman also knew Pearl's name. The two didn't know each other well before the interview process, but Pearl's success speaks for itself.
"His energy, his infectiousness, just the way he approaches the game – the players love playing for him," Bowman said. "He's been successful at every place that he's been at. Obviously he's a great coach, great evaluator and a great communicator, and I think those are things you want to be associated with when you're playing or coaching at a high level.
"I'm hopeful for the opportunity to be where he is one day."
So when Pearl offered him the job, Bowman said yes. He accepted the challenge. He chose to leave his alma mater, leave the big city for the loveliest village on the Plains, all because he believes this Auburn program is on the cusp of something special.
"It's ripe for [Auburn] to take that next step and be one of the preeminent basketball teams in the country," Bowman said.
There's been little to no down time for Bowman, who arrived on campus Tuesday and after a meeting with the other coaches, he was on the court with the players that same afternoon. The next day, he hit the recruiting trail to see and evaluate potential prospects.
But Auburn is home now. He's now part of the Auburn family.
Greg Ostendorf is a Senior Writer for AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @greg_ostendorf