Auburn’s Bruce Pearl Signs 8-Year Extension Worth More Than $50 Million

Bruce Pearl won’t be going to Louisville, and he won’t be going anywhere else.

The 61-year-old Auburn men’s basketball coach has agreed to a new eight-year contract that runs through 2030 and will pay Pearl $5.4 million annually with a $250,000 annual escalator, the school announced. The total value of the deal is $50.2 million. He’s currently the third-highest paid coach in the SEC behind Kentucky’s John Calipari and Tennessee’s Rick Barnes.

In a video released Friday, Auburn AD Allen Greene said the extension means Pearl will coach the Tigers “for life.”

The announcement comes after a week in which Pearl steered Auburn to the No. 1 ranking in the AP Poll for the first time in program history, and in which Louisville bought out embattled coach Chris Mack for $4.8 million. Pearl had been linked to the opening, along with former Louisville standout and Knicks assistant Kenny Payne. 

“By leading Auburn’s men’s basketball program to unprecedented heights, Coach Bruce Pearl has earned this contract extension that’s commensurate with his level of achievement within the Southeastern Conference. We are thrilled to agree on terms that will keep BP on the Plains for many years to come while investing in his assistant coaches and support staff,” Greene said in a statement. “In addition to Auburn’s remarkable on-court success under his leadership, Coach Pearl has tirelessly championed Auburn Athletics and Auburn University while serving our community in countless ways. This extension ensures that Auburn’s commitment to Coach Pearl matches BP’s commitment to Auburn.” 

Just last month, Auburn was placed on four years probation and Pearl served a two-game suspension after the NCAA said the program failed to monitor former associate head coach Chuck Person for his role in the college basketball bribery case originating in 2017.

It was Pearl’s second sanctioning by the NCAA after he was given a three-year show cause penalty in 2011 as a result of a recruiting investigation during his time at Tennessee. Pearl was fired by Tennessee in 2011, and hired at Auburn in 2014.

Now in his eighth season, Pearl has directed the Tigers to a 19-1 record and the No. 1 ranking nationally for the first time in program history. Off to their best SEC start since 1958-59 with an 8-0 record, the Tigers have won 16-conseuctive games, the longest active streak in the country. They also feature the potential No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft in Jabari Smith.

Pearl has led Auburn to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances, including Auburn’s first-ever Final Four in 2019 when the Tigers won a program-record 31 games. His 2019-20 squad won 25 games before the season was cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic. Under Pearl, Auburn has the best overall record in the Southeastern Conference in the last five years.

“I am grateful to our Director of Athletics, Allen Greene and our administration, Dr. Jay Gogue, General Burgess and Rich McGlynn, for their continued commitment to Auburn Basketball and helping us build a competitive program,” head coach Bruce Pearl said.

“My intent when I came to Auburn was to have enough success for this to be my last coaching job. My family and I love Auburn University, the proud tradition, our alumni, student and fan support, as well as the close-knit community we have here on the Plains. I am grateful to all of my players, coaches and support staff for making history. Auburn will be our family’s forever home. I am humbled and blessed to be your head coach for a very long time. War Eagle!”