Auburn Basketball: Bruce Pearl receives contract extension

(Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire)

Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl has officially signed a contract extension with the team.

The school revealed the new contract via Twitter on Monday, with Pearl now signed through the 2022-23 season.

Pearl recently finished his fourth season with the Tigers after taking over as coach in 2014.

Auburn athletic director Allen Greene pinpointed the team’s performance on and off the court as being a big factor in the extension.

“It was a historic season for Auburn basketball and one that was matched by excellence in the classroom as well,” Greene said.”

“We take great pride in providing our student-athletes with an abundance of resources to help with their overall development. Coach Pearl shares my commitment to ensuring the holistic development of our student-athletes and adhering to the mission of Auburn University as an institution of higher learning.”

Pearl and company had a rocky start to the 2017-18 season, as former assistant coach Chuck Person was arrested last October as part of the FBI’s investigation into college basketball.

Person was later fired by the school, but the after-effects left sophomores Austin Wiley and Danjel Purifoy sidelined for the entire season.

However, Pearl rallied the team and led Auburn to one of its best seasons in school history after struggling in recent years.

The Tigers finished 26-8 overall and captured a share of the SEC regular season title before advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.