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Steven Pearl promoted to Associate Head Coach

Posted on 8/1/23 at 4:54 pm
Posted by Weagle25
THE Football State.
Member since Oct 2011
47645 posts
Posted on 8/1/23 at 4:54 pm
I’m assuming he’s in line for the HC job at some point? How far do you think he is from being ready?

LINK
Posted by MrAUTigers
Florida
Member since Sep 2013
29795 posts
Posted on 8/1/23 at 5:06 pm to
It was my understanding that Steven will take over when Bruce retires. That was the agreement when Bruce signed the "lifetime contract".

Steven does a good job of scouting the opponent and installing the gameplan, IMO. There is no telling what kind of HC he will be. Like it or not......we will be finding out.
Posted by auburnnyc94
Member since Nov 2017
10048 posts
Posted on 8/1/23 at 5:24 pm to
10 years ago when Steven started at Auburn he wasn’t super serious about coaching long term so I never thought it would happen when people mentioned it. However, it appears he has gotten serious about it. And he’s certainly capable from and X’s and O’s standpoint and the team really likes him. Can he recruit at a high level, attract high level assistants, and run a clean program? Who knows? But I hope he’s paying attention to what makes his dad special and doesn’t merely try to make a carbon copy because that would fail. Bruce is the kind of guy that would be millionaire regardless of what field he entered.
Posted by HailToTheChiz
Back in Auburn
Member since Aug 2010
54311 posts
Posted on 8/1/23 at 5:25 pm to
I'm fine with giving him a shot when the time comes
Posted by tigerterrace
Mobile, Alabama
Member since Sep 2016
3475 posts
Posted on 8/1/23 at 6:50 pm to
The bigger question for me is what exactly is the Associate Head Coach and why the need for the title.

I understand the less popular coach in waiting if that is what it truly is?

Along with Pearl recently we have also seen Baseball elevate both Nonemaker and Gross to Associate HC and today Emily Carosone was also named Associate HC.
Posted by HailToTheChiz
Back in Auburn
Member since Aug 2010
54311 posts
Posted on 8/1/23 at 8:04 pm to
Maybe it was necessary based on the other sport promotions, plus a raise. Not really sure
Posted by BowlJackson
Birmingham, AL
Member since Sep 2013
52881 posts
Posted on 8/1/23 at 9:04 pm to
quote:

It was my understanding that Steven will take over when Bruce retires. That was the agreement when Bruce signed the "lifetime contract".


Nothing against Steven personally, but I'm not a fan of this kind of thing. How many examples are there of nepotism actually panning out at this level of sports?
Posted by GenesChin
The Promise Land
Member since Feb 2012
37839 posts
Posted on 8/1/23 at 9:11 pm to
quote:

How many examples are there of nepotism actually panning out at this level of sports?


We have a final 4 and multiple NCAA appearances. Pretty sure it is panning out already
Posted by BowlJackson
Birmingham, AL
Member since Sep 2013
52881 posts
Posted on 8/1/23 at 9:37 pm to
That's not what I meant, and you know it. There's a million examples of sons being on the staffs of their legendary fathers during successful runs. But how often does it work out when daddy hands over the reigns?

Auburn has its very own recent example of a coach with unprecedented success in his sport for AU who named his son Associate HC with plans to hand over the program to the son when dad retired. That situation backfired before it ever got started.

How often does the son of a legendary coach even come close to their father's level of success, whether they go on to coach the same team or a different one?

Look, I like Steven. I hope he has a long and successful career, and I would love it if he did that at Auburn. What I don't like is the idea of just promising anyone a high level job in a position of leadership, 5-10 years in advance, just bc of who their daddy is. Assuming we're talking about a situation where Steven just sits on the staff as AHC until Bruce retires.

If Steven were to go somewhere else as HC and prove himself on his own first, and then come back and take over when Bruce retires then great. But still don't just promise it to him, have a proper search and interview process. Bruce has turned Auburn into an attractive job. There should be competition for Bruce's replacement, and the best man should get the job regardless of his last name. If that's Steven, then hell yeah
Posted by auburnnyc94
Member since Nov 2017
10048 posts
Posted on 8/1/23 at 10:18 pm to
quote:

How often does the son of a legendary coach even come close to their father's level of success, whether they go on to coach the same team or a different one?


Idk but the sample size is so small that I don’t think you can say it can’t go well as any kind of hard and fast rule. I wouldn’t prefer it, perhaps, but no reason to think it would be worse or better than whatever Lebo/Barbee type name you want to draw out of a hat
Posted by slacker130
Your mom
Member since Jul 2010
8964 posts
Posted on 8/2/23 at 7:51 am to
quote:

Nothing against Steven personally, but I'm not a fan of this kind of thing. How many examples are there of nepotism actually panning out at this level of sports?



I agree, but I'm pretty sure that Bruce has earned his son a shot.
Posted by wesfau
Member since Mar 2023
2021 posts
Posted on 8/2/23 at 8:49 am to
I would presume that Bruce would stick around the program post-retirement. Let Steven handle the day-to-day workings and game-planning. Let Bruce involve himself in recruiting and student-liaised activities.
Posted by TheJones
Member since Nov 2009
34591 posts
Posted on 8/2/23 at 9:13 am to
quote:

Nothing against Steven personally, but I'm not a fan of this kind of thing. How many examples are there of nepotism actually panning out at this level of sports?


Not sure how I’d feel either. Would hope that we’d be able to attract someone with experience after what Bruce built

Kinda hoping Steven coaches a mid major somewhere eventually
Posted by tigerterrace
Mobile, Alabama
Member since Sep 2016
3475 posts
Posted on 8/2/23 at 1:08 pm to
I bet the above poster is right when they said they wanted to give a raise and maybe needed a title change to justify that.

I would be a fan of letting him go to another smaller program and cutting his teeth getting some experience pf being the head guy.

I know CBP can start to relegate duties to him, but it isn't the same.
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