The introductory press conference is over, and like every coach before him, Steven Pearl won it. All of the i's have been dotted, t's crossed, and the contract for Auburn's brand new basketball coach is signed, sealed and delivered.
Now the work begins as the 38-year-old Pearl takes over a position that is daunting, difficult, and close to a no-win: for his father, Bruce, who is the winningest coach in Auburn's program history, brought the Tigers back from the dead and took Auburn fans to heights never before seen or imagined.
Factor in all of that, plus the expectations that Auburn fans now have, and it's crucial that Pearl wins, and wins this season. Before his father decided to retire on Monday, the elder Pearl had built another roster that would contend for SEC and NCAA titles. Getting so close to the mountaintop last season before coming up short was fresh on the coach's mind, and with his age getting up there in years, Bruce Pearl saw his chances to bring that one trophy missing home to the Plains.
We don't know what will happen in the transfer portal, but with the season so close and practice already underway, the chances that a key player will be able to find a new home are slim. And I'm confident that before announcing his retirement, Bruce ensured the roster his staff and he had built this offseason would remain intact for his son.
But with all the pomp and circumstance done, it's reality time for Steven Pearl, first-time head coach. Mostly shielded from criticism as an assistant and associate head coach, the younger Pearl is now the face of a program that has become known as a winner nationwide, and everything that goes on with the program is his responsibility. If Auburn basketball fails, it is on his shoulders.
His father wore that outfit extremely well from the first day he stepped on the Plains. He preached that it would take time, and seeing how far the program was in shambles, Auburn fans were willing to be patient.
That patience might no longer be there, as winning big has become the program's core. Before Bruce, there were no No. 1 rankings, College GameDays, Final Fours and expectations of titles. Post Bruce, those expectations will remain the same, and it's up to Steven to understand and meet them.
There's a chance that this all goes wrong. Last year, longtime Virginia head coach Tony Bennett retired right before the season, leaving Ron Sanchez in charge. The Cavaliers would go on to their worst season in some time, posting a 15-17 record.
Could that happen to Auburn? Possibly, but Bruce, John Cohen and the athletic staff have put Steven in a better position than what Sanchez had in Charlottesville. No father is going to leave their son out to dry, especially when it comes to continuing to build upon his legacy.
All of the right things have been said as Steven Pearl became the 22nd head coach in Auburn men's basketball history. Now, it's up to him to show that this succession plan was worth it.