Auburn Tigers basketball coach Steven Pearl was initiated by fire into his new role by the media conglomerate that celebrated his father Bruce's retirement after 11 seasons on the Plains with shots at his son, who takes over effective immediately for the 2025-26 season.
Cats Illustrated's Justin Rowland evoked Steven's pre-Auburn work experience to undermine the hire.
"Pearl's son is a 38 year old who worked as a medical sales rep for years until he took up coaching in 2017. Only ever coached under his dad. I'm sure it's the best hire for Auburn," Rowland wrote.
Yahoo Sports' Dan Wolken, eternally a critic of Bruce, and now, by extension, Steven, straight-up called Steven a nepotism hire. Wolken also pondered whether or not Auburn would have to find a new coach before Steven's five-year contract with the Tigers is up.
"Is it worth two Final Fours if it means you’re forced to make a nepo hire that you’ll probably have to clean up in three years? Interesting test case at Auburn," Wolken wrote.
Former Rocky Top Insider writer Reed Carrington didn't take a shot, per se, but humorously brought up some of Steven's questionable behavior from his younger years.
"Dude who challenged me to fights on this app is now the head coach at Auburn," Carrington wrote.
Steven isn't taking over because Bruce is making a political run, as what was heavily rumored. Bruce was a popular name on the Republican side for the junior Alabama senate seat Tommy Tuberville is vacating for a gubernatorial run.
Why he's taking over for his father is unclear. Bruce's retirement was certainly abrupt, though taking an ambassador role with AU means it could've been an issue of Bruce wanting a lighter schedule in light of recent world events. Running a college basketball program isn't the same job it used to be.
Steven's taking those responsibilites. We'll see if he can prove the doubters wrong and continue a proud tradition of college hoops in East Central Alabama.