Where is arguably one of the greatest collegiate coaching minds and most successful in recent times to wind up after being un-ceremonially dismissed from one of the SEC’s top hoops programs? The NBA’s D-League I suppose.
Of course, I am speaking of former University of Tennessee head man Bruce Pearl. Just prior to last season, Pearl and the Volunteer hoops program was on top of the world, fresh of an Elite Eight appearance in the 2010 NCAA Tournament. He also secured the services of Top 10 rated HS prospect Tobias Harris, joining the ever improving Scotty Hopson, heading into the ’10-’11 season as SEC contenders.
Many, myself included, considered Pearl a Top 10 coach in America as he constantly got the best of top tiered opponents, especially in post-season play. He became the 2nd fastest Division I coach to reach 300 career victories behind only Roy Williams, and had a sparkling 125-46 record with the Vols in only 5 seasons.
Love him or hate him, you have to admit that Pearl has had great success on the college hardwood, amassing an 86-38 mark at Milwaukee, and winning a National Championship at Division II Southern Indiana, before his time at Tennessee. While some questioned his character after the whole racial comment incident at a fundraiser in 2009, many considered Pearl the prototypical college coach, so enthusiastic that he would even paint himself orange and cheer with the student section during women’s games.
Then came rumors of alleged recruiting violations involving an excessive number of phone calls to prospective recruits discovered during an NCAA led investigation of the Tennessee basketball and football programs. To make matters worse, Pearl admitted he lied to investigators this past September, prompting the school’s Athletic Director to force Pearl to give up an estimated $1.5 million in salary and limit any off-campus recruiting for 1 year.
Then in November, the school went a step farther by suspending Pearl from coaching his team’s first 8 SEC Conference games. Although the Vols started the season with in unblemished 7-0 mark, including besting Villanova and Pittsburgh, and earning a Top 10 national ranking, they finished the seaon going 4-8 over their final 12 games to limp into the NCAA Tournament. They then got blown out by 30 points in the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tourney, setting a mark for the largest margin of loss in a #8 vs #9 match-up. Then on March 21st, while awaiting a final punishment from the NCAA, the university made a bold move to dismiss Pearl as their head coach.
Historical precedent says that Pearl is likely to receive a just-cause penalty for providing false information to investigators and may find his job opportunities greatly diminished, at least for the short term. What is a disgraced once elite level NCAA coach to do? Take his talents to the broadcast booth, become an NBA assistant a la Kelvin Sampson, or take some time off?
Nope. None of those options are Bruce Pearl’s style as he is destined to be a head coach somewhere. How about the NBA D-League? That is precisely the scenerio unraveling as the Maine Red Claws are reportedly very interested in signing the successful collegiate head coach for next season.
Surely Pearl was eyeing either an NCAA or NBA television gig, but his egomaniacal personality meshes well with once again becoming a head coach in the not so far future. Why not now? Pearl, 51, has New England roots, and a combination of his considerable coaching talent and marketing acumen make him an attractive candidate for the Red Claws. Although his salary as a D-League coach would be considerably less than TV, speaking from experience, coaching is in the blood, and there’s always an itch to remain in the coaching box and on the sideline when given the opportunity. Just ask current Sixers coach Doug Collins. The Red Claws coaching job became available when Austin Ainge left the organization to join the Boston Celtics as Director of Player Personnel.
I can just see it now…Bruce Pearl painting himself red and donning a pair of fake lobster claws on each hand to promote the Red Claws, looking like a character from SpongeBob Squarepants, in the newest television commercial for the D-League affiliate.
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
