BREAKING: Bruce Pearl Named AP Coach of the Year Hours Before Final Four Showdown

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April 6, 2025 – Glendale, Arizona

What America might have missed in the chaotic swirl of Final Four basketball is something it absolutely deserves to know. Just hours before Auburn tipped off against Florida in one of the most anticipated Final Four matchups in recent memory, the Associated Press dropped a stunner of its own: Bruce Pearl has been named the AP College Basketball Coach of the Year, sharing the prestigious honor with none other than St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino.

For Pearl, the recognition serves as a career-defining moment and a poetic culmination of two decades spent building, rebuilding, and, ultimately, transcending the expectations of every program he’s touched. For Auburn, it is a signal that the Tigers are no longer just part of the national conversation—they’re helping shape it.

Though Auburn ultimately fell in a fierce battle to Florida in the Final Four, the timing of Pearl’s honor, and the weight of what it means, cannot be overstated. Amid a wild night that also saw Houston shock Duke in the other semifinal, Bruce Pearl’s moment risked being overshadowed. But those close to the game know what it represents.

Let’s take a closer look at why the honor is deserved, what it says about Pearl, and how it marks a pivotal moment not just for Auburn—but for college basketball.

The Announcement That Rocked the Arena

The AP’s announcement came early in the afternoon, catching even Pearl off guard. He was preparing with his team for the biggest game of their season when reporters began to flood his phone.

“I didn’t even know,” Pearl said during the post-game press conference. “One of my assistants showed me on his phone, and I said, ‘You’re kidding, right?’ Then it hit me. Wow. It’s real.”

The award, voted on by a panel of national media members, is one of the highest honors a college basketball coach can receive. Pearl and Pitino finished in a tie—something that hadn’t happened since 1990.

“This award isn’t about me,” Pearl said. “It’s about Auburn. It’s about the staff, the players, the culture we’ve built. I just happen to be the guy lucky enough to lead it.”

Auburn’s Historic 2024–25 Season

What Bruce Pearl accomplished this season was nothing short of extraordinary. Auburn entered the year ranked outside the top 20 in most preseason polls. With a roster full of under-recruited players, transfers, and only one projected NBA draft pick, the Tigers weren’t supposed to make this kind of noise.

But under Pearl, they did more than just “make noise.” They kicked down the door of national irrelevance and demanded attention.

Regular season record: 29–5
SEC record: 15–3
SEC Tournament: Champions
NCAA Tournament: Final Four appearance
Signature wins: Over Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee, Kansas, and North Carolina

The team’s stifling defense, blistering transition offense, and uncanny poise in close games reflected a coach who knew how to get the absolute best out of his players.

“No one expected us to go this far,” said senior forward Dylan Cardwell. “But Coach Pearl? He told us from day one that we were going to surprise people. He believed in us when nobody else did.”

Rick Pitino: A Shared Honor, a Shared Journey

While Bruce Pearl’s rise this season was remarkable, so was Rick Pitino’s return to the sport’s upper echelon. At 72, Pitino took over a St. John’s program that had been mired in mediocrity and immediately turned it into a Big East contender.

Both coaches are fiery, passionate, and strategic—but their shared award also represents a redemption arc for two men who’ve each weathered storms.

Pearl was once banned from coaching after a recruiting scandal at Tennessee. Pitino’s own scandals led to an exodus from Louisville. And yet, here they are: both rebuilding their reputations, both leading new chapters, both thriving.

“It’s poetic,” said ESPN analyst Jay Bilas. “Two men once seen as damaged goods—now standing at the pinnacle of the sport again.”

The Blueprint: Pearl’s Culture-First Approach

If there’s one word to describe how Bruce Pearl built this Auburn team, it’s culture.

Since taking over in 2014, Pearl has turned the Tigers from an SEC afterthought into a consistent powerhouse. Auburn has made the NCAA Tournament six times under his leadership, won two SEC titles, and now has two Final Four appearances.

What changed?

Pearl instilled a program-wide mentality of accountability, energy, and relentless belief.

“You walk into practice, and there’s this electricity,” said assistant coach Steven Pearl, Bruce’s son. “It’s loud. It’s intense. But it’s also joyful. Coach gets everyone bought in—every player, trainer, walk-on. Everyone feels seen and valued.”

That culture was on full display in the Final Four run. Auburn never flinched, even in the face of close games or national skepticism. They played like a team coached by a man who knows how to rally underdogs into believers.

Auburn’s Identity Under Pearl: Fast, Fierce, Fearless

Tactically, Pearl has adapted over the years. In his early coaching days, he ran a frenetic, full-court press that wore opponents down. At Auburn, his philosophy has matured.

This year’s Tigers ranked top 10 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency and top 20 in transition offense, according to KenPom.

“It’s a mix of analytics and guts,” said Pearl. “We trust the data, but we also trust what we see on the court. We give our guys freedom within structure.”

Junior point guard K.D. Johnson described it best: “Coach gives us the keys, but he makes sure we know how to drive.”

Player Development: Pearl’s Secret Sauce

One of the most underrated aspects of Pearl’s success is his ability to develop talent—not just recruit it.

Walker Kessler: Transferred from UNC and became an NBA first-rounder.
Jabari Smith Jr.: A five-star who blossomed into a lottery pick under Pearl.
Allen Flanigan: Once a role player, became a critical scorer and leader.
Chaney Johnson: The 2025 Oscar Robertson Trophy winner, who Pearl took a chance on.

“He sees potential in guys before anyone else does,” said Flanigan. “And then he pushes you until you see it in yourself.”

This year’s roster was a prime example—featuring several players overlooked by blue bloods, but molded into stars by Pearl’s guidance.

What the AP Award Means for Auburn

This isn’t just a personal milestone for Bruce Pearl. It’s a message to the college basketball world: Auburn is here to stay.

The Tigers are no longer a feel-good story. They’re a legitimate program with staying power, capable of winning big, recruiting nationally, and being in the title conversation every season.

Pearl’s award also helps Auburn’s recruiting pitch. “You want to play for the best? Come to Auburn,” one assistant said. “Coach Pearl is living proof.”

Already, the Tigers are seeing the benefits. Their 2025 recruiting class is ranked No. 4 nationally and includes two McDonald’s All-Americans.

The Future of Auburn Basketball

Pearl, who turns 65 this year, has made it clear he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

“People ask me when I’m going to retire,” he said after the award announcement. “I say, ‘Why would I retire when I’m having the time of my life?’”

He has also begun to lay the foundation for a lasting legacy by grooming his staff—including his son Steven—for long-term stability. That continuity matters in a sport increasingly defined by transfers, NIL chaos, and coaching turnover.

“We’ve built something real here,” Pearl said. “Something sustainable. And we’re just getting started.”

The Heart of the Plains: A Community Moved

Back in Auburn, the news sparked celebrations. Students gathered at Toomer’s Corner, rolled the oaks, and held impromptu rallies celebrating both the Final Four appearance and Pearl’s award.

“It means everything,” said junior Maria Hollingsworth. “We used to be a football school. Now we’re a basketball power, too—and Coach Pearl is the reason why.”

Auburn athletic director John Cohen echoed the sentiment. “Bruce Pearl is the best hire we’ve ever made. Not just because he wins—but because he represents what Auburn is all about: heart, grit, and family.”