Bruce Pearl 'locked up' with Auburn, seemingly gets long-term extension

A contract extension had not been formally announced at the time the video was released.

The video begins with Greene greeting Auburn fans before saying "we locked him up" as he turns the camera to reveal a laughing Pearl. 

"It wasn't that hard. ... My family and I are going to be able to stay and be your basketball coach for a long, long time," Pearl said. "I'm grateful, I'm humbled, I'm blessed to be your coach, and War Eagle."

The supposed extension does not come unwarranted. Earlier this week, Auburn was named the No. 1 team in the country for the first time in program history, a week after narrowly missing the top spot and instead landing at No. 2. At 19-1 overall and 8-0 in conference play, the Tigers easily stand alone atop the SEC.

Pearl has been at Auburn since 2014, and over that time has compiled a 157-93 record. His most successful year before this one was certainly the 2018-19 season, in which he led the Tigers to a 30-10 finish and a run to the Final Four as a 5 seed. 

He previously was the head coach at Southern Indiana, Milwaukee and Tennessee. He was fired by the Volunteers in 2011 following an NCAA investigation that resulted in recruiting sanctions. Pearl also was subject to recruiting violations at Auburn, resulting in a two-game suspension handed down earlier this season and a self-imposed postseason ban in 2020-21, among other penalties.