Auburn’s new men’s basketball coach, Bruce Pearl, waves to fans upon his arrival Tuesday at Auburn University Regional Airport in Auburn, Ala.Last month, Bruce Pearl was an ESPN college basketball analyst who was wanted by thousands of Tennessee fans to come back and coach in Knoxville after a three-year absence.
Pearl is now Auburn’s coach, having signed a six-year contract at $2.2 million annually. The Tigers have not been to the NCAA tournament since 2003, so Pearl’s hiring was viewed as a major coup for Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs.
Meanwhile at Tennessee, Cuonzo Martin recently took the Volunteers on an impressive run to the NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16 and should soon receive a pay hike as well.
Pearl was a guest Tuesday on “Press Row” on Chattanooga’s ESPN 105.1 The Zone.
Q: You said at your hiring announcement that your contract showed the commitment Auburn has to developing a championship basketball program. What other signs of commitment have you seen?