Is Steven Pearl Related to Bruce Pearl? Father Admits Nepotism in Auburn Coaching Succession
March 8, 2026 — Auburn, Ala. Bruce Pearl, former Auburn men’s basketball head coach, admitted on March 4, 2026, that nepotism played a role in his son Steven Pearl succeeding him as head coach after his retirement in September 2025. The confirmation addresses the common query, “is Steven Pearl related to Bruce Pearl?”—yes, Steven is Bruce’s son.
Pearl made the remarks during an appearance on OutKick’s “Don’t @ Me” podcast with Dan Dakich, clarifying earlier comments amid discussions about NCAA Tournament selections.
“Did I help my son get the job? Nepotism?” Pearl said. “Of course, I did. People won’t accuse me of something saying, ‘Yeah, I love the United States of America. I love my ancestral Jewish homeland.’ No, I’m not going to deny who I am and who I’ve always been.”
Nepotism Admission Sparks Debate
The admission, covered by AL.com, ON3, and the Montgomery Advertiser, came as Auburn sits on the NCAA Tournament bubble with a 16-14 record in Steven’s first season. Bruce emphasized the nepotism applied only to the Auburn job, not influencing his opinions on teams like Miami (OH).
The question “is Steven Pearl related to Bruce Pearl” has gained traction with the recent comments, confirming their father-son bond central to Auburn’s program culture.
Succession Plan
Bruce retired on September 23, 2025, transitioning to a university ambassador role after leading Auburn to five SEC titles and two Final Fours. Athletic director John Cohen chose not to conduct an external search, promoting Steven, then associate head coach, to a five-year deal. Steven Pearl told ESPN the transition was planned for three years, with staff continuity prioritized.
“As far as when it hit me, it didn’t hit me until I showed up at the gym and [my father] was filming his goodbye video and [Cohen] pulled me aside and he was like, ‘Hey, you’re the guy,’” Steven said.
Steven Pearl’s Background
Steven, 38 and the youngest SEC head coach, played for his father at Tennessee from 2007-2011. He joined Auburn in 2014 as assistant strength coach, advancing through roles including director of operations, assistant (2017), and associate head (2023). He coordinated defenses that ranked top-10 nationally multiple times.
The query “is Steven Pearl related to Bruce Pearl” underscores their long collaboration, with Steven contributing to seven NBA Draft picks.
Reactions
ESPN and CBS Sports reported the smooth handover, but reactions vary. ESPN sources noted Bruce’s retirement was expected. On X, Paul Finebaum called the admission “pretty embarrassing,” as shared by @awfulannouncing. Reddit discussions highlighted the controversy.
Bruce now works as a TNT analyst, rooting for his son’s success: “Am I rooting for my son to make the NCAA tournament? Of course I am.”
The father-son dynamic continues to define Auburn basketball, as fans ponder “is Steven Pearl related to Bruce Pearl” amid ongoing tournament talk.
