Bruce Pearl announced his retirement from Auburn on Monday after 11 seasons.
Auburn named Bruce Pearl’s son, Steven Pearl, as his dad’s successor.
Steven Pearl served under his dad, Bruce Pearl, at Auburn for several years.
The men’s college basketball world saw a seismic coaching transition on Monday, Sept. 22.
Auburn men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl announced that, after 11 seasons with the Tigers and 21 seasons as Division I college basketball coach, he was retiring from coaching. He called his time with Auburn ‘the opportunity of a lifetime.’
Taking over for Pearl at Auburn is his son, Steven Pearl, who has served as the Tigers’ associate head coach the past two seasons. Steven Pearl played for his dad at Tennessee, and signed to a five-year deal with the Tigers after they reached the program’s second-ever Final Four appearance.
Steven Pearl will be the youngest head coach in the SEC this season at 38 years old. However, this won’t be the first coaching transition from father to son in men’s college basketball.
Here’s a history of notable father-son coaching transitions that Bruce and Steven Pearl are joining:
Father-son college basketball coaching transitions
Dick and Tony Bennett, Washington State
Dick Bennett at Washington State (2003-06): 36-49 overall
Tony Bennett at Washington State (2006-09): 69-33 overall
With two games remaining in the regular 2005-06 season, Washington State announced that Tony Bennett would succeed his father, Dick Bennett, in Pullman, Washington after Dick Bennett gave his letter of resignation.
Tony Bennett had a successful three-year stint with the Cougars before he was hired away to Virginia in 2009. In his first two seasons at Washington State, the Cougars had back-to-back seasons with at least 26 wins under Tony Bennett and made two consecutive trips to the men’s NCAA tournament.
Bob and Pat Knight, Texas Tech
Bob Knight at Texas Tech (2001-08): 138-82 overall
Pat Knight at Texas Tech (2007-11): 50-61 overall
Like the Bennetts, Bob Knight had a succession plan that involved his son, Pat Knight, when the legendary college basketball coach reached the near end of his career at Texas Tech. Announced back in 2005 but made official during the middle of the 2007-08 season, Pat Knight took over for his dad in February 2008 after Bob Knight decided to retire midseason.
Pat Knight didn’t come near the level of success that his dad had at Indiana or Texas Tech, as he only had one winning season at Texas Tech, when the Red Raiders went 19-16 overall in the 2009-10 season. He was fired by Texas Tech before the 2011 Big 12 tournament.
Homer, Scott and Bryce Drew, Valparaiso
Homer Drew at Valparaiso (1988-2002; 2003-2011): 370-306 overall
Scott Drew at Valparaiso (2002-03): 20-11 overall
Bryce Drew at Valparaiso (2011-16): 124-49
The Drew Family has a lot of history with the Valparaiso basketball program, largely in part to what Homer Drew built there. The other reason is that both of his sons, Scott and Bryce, replaced their dad in some capacity.
Scott Drew was the first son to succeed Homer Drew at Valparaiso, which was short lived after he was hired away by Baylor after the 2002-03 season. In his lone season at Valparaiso, Scott Drew led the Beacons to a 20-11 overall record and the Mid-Continent Conference regular season crown.
Homer Drew came out of retirement as a result, leading the program again from 2003 through his permanent retirement in 2011.
Bryce Drew built some consistent success at Valparaiso over his five seasons, as the Beacons won four Horizon League regular season titles, two Horizon League tournament titles and made two trips to the men’s NCAA tournament.
Eddie and Sean Sutton, Oklahoma State
Eddie Sutton at Oklahoma State (1990-2006): 368-161 overall
Sean Sutton at Oklahoma State (2006-08): 39-29 overall
One of the all-time great Oklahoma State basketball head coaches, Eddie Sutton took a medical leave after a February 2006 car accident, where he pleaded no contest to drunk driving charges. That led to his son, Sean Sutton, taking over the Cowboys mid-season.
Sean Sutton did not last long in Stillwater after taking over full-time for his dad, as he resigned from his post after two seasons. In his time at Oklahoma State, the Cowboys posted a 39-29 overall record and missed the NCAA men’s tournament in each of those two seasons.
Gene and Murry Bartow, Alabama-Birmingham
Gene Bartow at UAB (1979-1996): 350-193 overall record
Murry Bartow at UAB (1996-2002): 103-83 overall record
Murry Bartow look over for his dad, Gene Bartow, the winningest coach in Alabama-Birmingham basketball program history, in 1996.
Just the second head coach in UAB history, Bartow guided the Blazers to an 18-14 mark and an NIT appearance in his first season. He followed that season up with back-to-back seasons of at least 20 wins and a tournament appearance in 1999.
Bob and Matt McKillop, Davidson
Bob McKillop at Davidson (1989-2022): 634-380
Matt McKillop at Davidson (2022-present): 48-49
The last notable father-to-son transition happened in 2022 when Matt McKillop replaced Bob McKillop, who coached Steph Curry for three seasons, at Davidson. Bob McKillop retired in June of 2022 after 33 seasons at the helm of the program.
Entering his fourth season at Davidson, Matt McKillop, who had been an assistant coach under his father 14 seasons, holds an overall record of 48-49. The Wildcats went 6-12 in the Atlantic 10 last season and made it to the second round of the conference tournament.