Bruce Pearl leaves Auburn –– could a US Senate run be next?

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00:00And as hard as it is to say this, I've reached the realization that it's time for me to step aside.

00:07It is the end of an era at Auburn University.

00:10Bruce Pearl announced his retirement Monday after 11 seasons at the school

00:14and fresh off a trip to the NCAA Final Four in March.

00:20The 65-year-old Pearl led the Tigers to six NCAA appearances and two Final Fours.

00:27Auburn also earned at least a share of three SEC regular season titles and won two SEC tournament championships.

00:35Pearl made his announcement in a teary-eyed 14-minute video posted to Auburn's social media channels.

00:41I told myself that when I got to the point where I could not give it my all,

00:47where I wasn't necessarily 100%, where I couldn't be the relentless competitor that you expected of me,

00:55that it was going to be time.

00:58He leaves the program just five weeks before the season is set to begin, but said,

01:02the DNA of the program won't be changing.

01:05He'll be replaced by his son, Stephen Pearl, who played for his father at Tennessee

01:10and joined the coaching staff at Auburn in 2014.

01:14He has no prior head coaching experience.

01:17The outspoken Pearl has long been thought of as a future politician.

01:20He has never shied away from controversy or a chance to talk about his faith.

01:25He thanked God after winning a game in the Sweet 16 in March

01:29because it allowed him a chance to deliver a political message to begin a press conference.

01:34To give you an opportunity to just start this press conference really briefly

01:37and remind the world that Eden Alexander is still held hostage in Gaza right now.

01:44An American held hostage.

01:47Alexander was released by Hamas in May after more than a year and a half in captivity.

01:56Pearl downplayed recent speculation that he would run for the U.S. Senate seat

02:00that will soon be vacated by Senator Tommy Tuberville, a former Auburn football coach.

02:05Many of you know that I thought and prayed about maybe writing for the United States Senate,

02:11maybe to be the next great senator from the state of Alabama.

02:16That would have required leaving Auburn.

02:21And instead, the university has given me an opportunity to stay here and be Auburn's senator.

02:29Pearl will move into an ambassador's role in the athletic department

02:32as special assistant to the athletics director.

02:35And Stephen Pearl certainly has big shoes to fill.

02:38His father was named the AP National Coach of the Year in 2025

02:42and his team spent much of the season ranked number one in the country.

02:46The Tigers finished 32-6 and lost to eventual national champion Florida in the Final Four.

02:53For Straight Arrow News, I'm Chris Francis.