Bruce Pearl, the head coach of the Auburn Tigers men’s basketball team, has addressed ongoing speculation about his potential run for a U.S. Senate seat in Alabama. His name was recently floated as a potential candidate to replace Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., who announced his intention to seek the Alabama governor’s office. Despite the attention, Pearl stated his focus remains on coaching and making an impact through athletics rather than politics.
Pearl, who has been a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump and has expressed strong backing for Israel amid rising antisemitism in the U.S., emphasized that he does not believe he needs to be a Senator to have an impact. He told the “Scott Jennings Show,” pondering whether he can make as big of an impact on the world as the head coach at Auburn. ‘Can I also have an impact as a basketball coach?’ Pearl said. ‘I’m graduating kids. I’m teaching kids. … I don’t know that I have to be a Senator in order (make an impact), there are so many things about Washington that are so dysfunctional that I don’t even know that I could make a difference there.’
Auburn Athletic Director John Cohen confirmed expectations for Pearl to remain the head coach for the 2025-26 season. Cohen noted the importance of adhering to policies related to NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and the new governing body, while acknowledging that circumstances could change. ‘I absolutely expect him to be the head coach at Auburn,’ Cohen said. ‘But I, I also expect all the policies of NIL Go and, and you know, our new governing body to be upheld. But things can change. We’ve seen that.’
Pearl, who is Jewish, has also been a vocal supporter of Israel in the face of rising antisemitism in the U.S. since the Oct. 7 terror attacks in Israel. He has been a supporter of how Trump has handled the conflicts in the Middle East as well. Pearl was also tapped to be the chairman of the U.S. Israel Education Association. His coaching record is impressive, with a record of 246-125 and leading Auburn to two Final Four appearances, including last season.