It’s been a special season for the Auburn Tigers. A year that has a chance to get even more special as they get set to play in just their second-ever Final Four game with a chance to advance to the national title game if they can defeat the Florida Gators on Saturday night.
Head coach Bruce Pearl has built an absolute monster on The Plains and has his program in the best place it’s ever been, and his efforts have not gone unnoticed.
Pearl was already named the SEC Coach of the Year by his peers after guiding his team to a regular season conference title in the best year the conference has ever had, but now his acclaim has gone national.
For the first time in the history of the AP Coach of the Year award, it’s being shared by two with Pearl splitting the honor with one of the best coaches in the history of college basketball in Rick Pitino of St. John’s:
At the top. 🐐 #WarEagle | @AP pic.twitter.com/j6iQPuWtQs
— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) April 4, 2025
Just special. 💫 pic.twitter.com/wLQfGlCC3a
— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) April 4, 2025
Congratulations to Bruce Pearl and Rick Pitino on earning AP Co-Coach of the Year honors 👏 pic.twitter.com/O5Xjdd96mp
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 4, 2025
The award has existed for 58 years but always has been able to be nailed down to one single winner, though with Pitno bringing his team their first Big East title in 20+ years and Pearl having the kind of season he did at Auburn, both were equally deserving.
While Pearl still has work left to do in what will perhaps be his greatest shot at a national title during his long and decorated coaching career, the honor of being named national Coach of the Year for the first time and SEC Coach of the Year for the fourth time is something he will remember for the rest of his life.
