AUBURN, Ala. – Steven Pearl, who enters his 10th season on the Auburn men's basketball staff, has been promoted to associate head coach.
"Steven has been an integral part of the success that we've had at Auburn from the beginning," head coach Bruce Pearl said. "Many people may forget that he started as an assistant strength coach and worked his way up through our program. He has been able to recruit and coach at a very high level. His ability to communicate and teach our system to our players is second to none. He is truly one of the best assistant coaches in the country and has earned this promotion."
Named one of the 50 most impactful high-major assistant coaches in NCAA Division I basketball by Silver Waves Media the last two years, Pearl has been instrumental in one of the biggest rebuilds in college basketball under his father's tutelage.
Auburn has won three SEC Championship titles over the last six years, made four NCAA Tournament appearances – including the Final Four in 2019 – and produced four NBA Draft first-round picks in Chuma Okeke, Isaac Okoro, Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler.
In addition, the Tigers were ranked a program-best No. 1 in the country during the 2021-22 season and ranked a school-record 32-consecutive weeks in The Associated Press Top 25 Poll from Oct. 18, 2021, to Feb. 5, 2023.
"I am so incredibly grateful for this opportunity and the trust so many people here at Auburn have put in me," Steven Pearl said. "To BP, our administration, the board, our amazing coaching staff, our student-athletes, supporters of our program and the Auburn Family at large – thank you for this honor. I recognize how privileged I am to be able to come to work every day for the Auburn men's basketball program, and I do not take that for granted.
"I couldn't be more fired up about the direction and future of our program. I promise you I will stop at nothing to help the program bring home more championships to Auburn. We are just getting started. War Eagle!"
His duties on the bench include opponent scouting, defensive strategies and adjustments as well as in-game play calling. Pearl has also played a huge role in the development of Auburn's big men to go along with a fervent recruiting strategy.
During Pearl's time on staff, Auburn has produced and developed six NBA Draft picks – more pros than the previous two decades. The Tigers have also won more NCAA Tournament games than any SEC program over the last six years.
Auburn has been a hotbed for producing and developing this next-level talent, particularly from the Atlanta area, including the recruitment of current pros Okoro (No. 5 overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2020), Kessler (No. 22 overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022) and Sharife Cooper (No. 48 overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in 2021).
Over the last two years, Steven Pearl has taken the lead in transfer portal recruiting, landing some of the top transfers in the country in Kessler, Wendell Green Jr., Johni Broome and Denver Jones. Kessler earned All-America, National Defensive Player of the Year, SEC Defensive Player of the Year and All-SEC First Team honors, while Green Jr. and Broome developed into All-SEC Second Team players last season. Jones is a junior transfer to the squad, who earned a spot on the All-Conference USA First Team.
"He is a younger version of me," Bruce Pearl said. "He has been able to stay up-to-date on the game, recruiting and technology. He has a knack for finding talent, especially in the age of the transfer portal. This decision has the full support of our coaching staff and the administration."