Bruce Pearl is certainly one of the coaches at the top of the game right now. His stints at Milwaukee, Southern Indiana, and Tennessee were nothing short of amazing.
With Milwaukee, he made two tournament appearances in four years. With the Volunteers, he would make the tournament all six years that he was the head coach.
Even in his time at Auburn over the past eight years, he has found great success on multiple different occasions. In the 2018-2019 season, Pearl led the Tigers to its’ first-ever Final Four appearance. Pearl’s history as a head coach just goes to show that the Tigers could be headed in that direction this season as well.
Since his head coaching career began in Division 1 in 2001, he has made it to either the Sweet 16 or better a total of four times. That means that four out of the seventeen years, his team has made a historic run.
He made it to the sweet sixteen with Milwaukee in 2004. At Tennessee, he led his squad to two Sweet 16 appearances plus an elite eight appearance as well.
As I mentioned earlier, he then led the Tigers to the final four in 2018. Not many coaches can say that they have done that. The Boston native has facilitated a winning foundation on the Plains and his postseason background certainly sets the Tigers up for success in March.
The unprecedented success at Auburn this season just goes to show what Pearl can do with any talent that he has on the floor.
Auburn will begin the Tournament this Friday in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament as the number two seed.
Brackets: Fill our your NCAA tournament bracket here!
The Tigers will play the No. 15 seed Jacksonville State Gamecocks. Tip-off is set for 11:45 a.m. CST on Tru TV.
Pearl and his players will look to bounce back from a devastating loss to the Aggies in the first round of the SEC Tournament. Most importantly, Pearl will look to solidify himself as one of the best coaches in both the postseason and regular season if the Tigers make a run.
Bruce Pearl’s History:
| Team | Year | Record | Notes |
| Milwaukee | 2002-03 | 24-8 | Round of 64 |
| Milwaukee | 2004-05 | 26-6 | Sweet 16 |
| Tennessee | 2005-06 | 22-8 | Round of 32 |
| Tennessee | 2006-07 | 24-11 | Sweet 16 |
| Tennessee | 2007-08 | 31-5 | Sweet 16 |
| Tennessee | 2008-09 | 21-13 | Round of 64 |
| Tennessee | 2009-10 | 28-9 | Elite Eight |
| Tennessee | 2010-11 | 19-15 | Round of 64 |
| Auburn | 2017-18 | 26-8 | Round of 32 |
| Auburn | 2018-19 | 30-10 | Final Four |
| Auburn | 2019-20 | 25-6 | Tournament Canceled |
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