SEC Basketball: Top 10 head coaches of the century (2000-20)

By Joey Loose | Jul 1, 2020

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 13: Head coach John Calipari (R) of the Kentucky Wildcats is congratulated by head coach Bruce Pearl of the Tennessee Volunteers after Kentucky won 74-45 during the semirfinals of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at the Bridgestone Arena on March 13, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

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AUBURN, ALABAMA – FEBRUARY 12: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

3. Bruce Pearl – Tennessee (2005-2011), Auburn (2014-2020)

The awesome contributions that Pearl has made for multiple SEC programs made him an easy inclusion near the top of the list. Years prior, he won the D2 national title with Southern Indiana and took Milwaukee to the Sweet Sixteen. He’s now spent six years with both Tennessee and Auburn, with violations, unfortunately, ended and souring his time with the Volunteers.

Under Pearl, Tennessee made the NCAA Tournament for six straight years, including an Elite Eight in 2010 and a pair of Sweet Sixteens. With Auburn, the stakes were pushed even further, taking the Tigers all the way to the Final Four in 2019, a year after a regular-season SEC crown. Even when you count in his rebuilding seasons with Auburn, he’s 270-137 as an SEC head coach and has gotten the best out of his programs.

While the poor end to his tenure at Tennessee was unfortunate, the way he’s bounced back with Auburn has been extraordinary. Pearl is responsible for Tennessee’s greatest run of basketball of the century and for leading Auburn to their first Final Four. His work is impressive and he looks to keep Auburn contending for SEC titles for years to come.

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