SPORTS LEDGER Established 2006 The PAGE 6 October 2025 E-Edition Read More Online at www.thesportsledger.com
Steven Pearl named head coach Auburn Basketball Coach Steps Down
Bruce Pearl, who has guided the Auburn men’s basketball program to unprecedented heights in his 11 years on The Plains, will step down as head coach effective immediately and will move into an ambassador’s role in the athletic department as special assistant to the athletic director. The winningest coach in Auburn men’s basketball history with 232 victories, Pearl guided Auburn to Final Fours in 2019 and 2025, five Southeastern Conference championships and six NCAA Tournament appearances. Pearl’s five conference titles at Auburn include three SEC regular- season championships and two tournament championships. Pearl also guided the program to its first ever No. 1 ranking in both national polls in 2022 and a school-record eight consecutive weeks at No. 1 in the Associated Press poll last season. “Eleven years ago, I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to become the head basketball coach at Auburn, and it has been nothing short of amazing,” Pearl said. “With the Auburn Family’s unwavering support, we have built a program from the ground up and taken it to heights it had never reached before. Not only have we won championships, but we have built the best home- court advantage in college basketball, we’ve invested in this community and changed lives, and we’ve developed and graduated Auburn men. We built a program with the core tenants of faith, family and passion, and together, we made history. I hope we have made Auburn proud." “I have been at this for almost 50 years and truthfully as hard as it is for me to say this, I have come to the realization that it’s time for me to step aside. Being the head coach at Auburn has been the privilege of my life, added Pearl. "Auburn Family, I love you and I hope you understand that for me, it is time. Brandy and I are looking forward to the opportunity to continue serving the Auburn Family – just, in a new capacity. War Eagle!” Following Bruce Pearl's announcement, Auburn Athletics Director John Cohen named Steven Pearl as the Tiger's next men's basketball head coach. Steven Pearl has spent the previous 11 seasons on the Auburn staff and served as associate head coach the past two seasons. He has signed a five-year contract to become the 22nd head coach in program history. Steven Pearl has been instrumental in helping Auburn win five Southeastern Conference Championships over the last eight years, along with six NCAA Tournament appearances – including the Final Four in 2019 and 2025. He’s also helped produce four NBA Draft
Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
The Geraldine volleyball program recently held its 2025 Senior Day. The Lady Bulldogs' three seniors this year include: (L-R) Ava Armstrong, Cassie Burns, and Lana Rowell. The 2025 Volleyball season is coming to a close this month. The Area Tournaments are set for October 15-18, the Regional Tournaments will be held October 22-24, and the 2025 AHSAA State Tournament will be held on October 28-30. Alabama Snaps UGA 33 Game Win Streak
By Myra W. Pierce The Sports Ledger The Alabama Crimson Tide football team stormed into Sanford Stadium in Athens on Saturday, September 27, and snapped the Georgia Bulldogs’ 33- game home winning streak with a gritty 24-21 victory. Georgia’s last home loss came in 2019 to South Carolina, as the Bulldogs lost that game 20-17 in double overtime. Alabama set the tone early, halting Georgia’s opening drive and striking first with a 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ty Simpson to Germie Bernard at the 7:41 mark in the first quarter. Kicker Conor Talty added the extra point to give the Tide a 7-0 lead heading into the second quarter. Just minutes later Simpson completed another pass play, which resulted in a 6-yard touchdown by Isiah Horton. Talty’s PAT extended the lead to 14-0. Georgia responded with 12:48 left in the half, as quarterback Gunner Stockton launched a 38- yard touchdown pass to Colbie Young. Peyton Woodring’s kick narrowed the gap to 14-7. In the first half, Stockton was 6-for-10 passing for 79 yards. Overall, he was 13-for-20 for 130 yards and only one touchdown. At the 8:33 mark of the opening half, Talty added a 24-yard field goal for the visiting Crimson Tide. Both teams traded touchdowns before halftime, sending Alabama into the locker room with a 24-14 advantage. Simpson completed 24-of-38 passes for 276 yards and he was responsible for all three of Alabama's first half
Former Auburn Head Coach Bruce Pearl. Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
first-round picks in Chuma Okeke, Isaac Okoro, Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler, and second-round pick Johni Broome. During his time on staff, Auburn has produced and developed seven NBA Draft picks and four All- Americans – more pros than the previous two decades. The Tigers have also won more NCAA Tournament games than any SEC program over the last seven years and earned the program’s first No. 1 ranking during the 2021-22 season, holding that ranking for eight consecutive weeks while being ranked in the top 25 for 32 consecutive weeks. “I’m incredibly grateful to President Dr. Roberts, Athletics Director John Cohen, and the entire Auburn leadership team for entrusting me with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Steven Pearl said. “In a sense, I’ve spent my lifetime preparing for this moment, learning from one of the best in BP, and building a foundation rooted in character, hard work, and team-first values. We’re not starting over — we’re building forward, with the same principles that have made Auburn Basketball elite. I’m honored to lead this program, and I’m ready to rise to the moment.” “When I came to Auburn three years ago, Coach Bruce Pearl made it clear to me that he was nearing the end of his coaching days. It was obvious to me – even then – that we needed to create an internal national search to prepare for the time when Coach Pearl would be stepping down,” Auburn Athletic Director John Cohen said. “Throughout our detailed process, it became obvious to me and our staff that Steven Pearl was clearly the best fit for Auburn. His expertise in coaching defense, his skills as an evaluator, recruiter, teacher and motivator, and his relationships with our student-athletes and staff
were paramount," added Cohen. “As the associate head coach on what I consider to be one of the elite coaching staffs in college basketball, Steven has played a prominent role in Auburn’s unprecedented success." “The uncommon stability of Auburn’s coaching staff is a huge reason why our men’s basketball program has won five SEC championships and made two trips to the Final Four in the past eight seasons. Keeping that staff intact was a high priority, and very much a part of our decision-making process. We are thrilled to congratulate Steven and Brittany and are excited to watch Steven lead the program into this next chapter," concluded Cohen. Auburn has become a hotbed for producing and developing this next-level talent, particularly from the Atlanta area, including the recruitment of current pros Okoro (No. 5 overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2020), Kessler (No. 22 overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022) and Sharife Cooper (No. 48 overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in 2021). Pearl served as acting head coach against North Alabama resulting in his first career coaching victory, 70-44, on Dec. 14, 2021, at Neville Arena. Pearl was a four-year letterwinner for his father, Bruce Pearl, at Tennessee, playing in 101 games from 2007-11. He helped Tennessee to back-to-back SEC East Championships in 2008 and 2009. Steven and his wife, Brittany, have a daughter, Lainey, born in December 2024. Auburn President Dr. Chris Roberts said that Auburn is looking "forward to now watching Steven lead this elite program into the future and continue guiding Auburn men’s basketball to the extraordinary successes he has helped our teams achieve over the past decade.”
Alabama's Germie Bernard (#5) catches a pass against Georgia. Photo Courtesy of Alabama Athletics
touchdowns. In addition to the scoring passes to Bernard and Horton, Simpson scored on a two- yard touchdown run with only :34 seconds left in the opening half. The Bulldogs battled back in the third quarter with a two-yard touchdown run by Josh McCray to tighten the score to 24-21 at the 6:30 mark. However, from that point on it was a defensive fight as neither team scored again. Alabama's defense held firm and made several key plays late in the game, including stopping the Bulldogs on fourth down inside the red zone, which helped seal the victory. Statistically, Alabama edged Georgia with 397 total yards to the Bulldogs’ 357. The win lifts the Crimson Tide to 3-1 on the season. The Bulldogs are also 3-1 on the season.
The leading rusher for Georgia was redshirt freshman Chauncey Bowens, who had 12 carries for 119 yards and a touchdown. He also had a career-high four catches for 22 yards. He is the first Bulldog to go over 100 yards rushing in a game since Nate Frazier against UMass last year, when he went for 136 yards. Next up, Alabama hosts Vanderbilt on Saturday, October 4, at 2:30 p.m. CT in Tuscaloosa. It will be a Top 20 Showdown, as Alabama is ranked No. 10 and Vanderbilt is ranked No. 16 in the most recent AP Top 25 poll. Georgia fell from No. 5 to No. 12 in the AP Poll. The Bulldogs will look to rebound as they welcome Kentucky on Oct. 4 at 11 a.m. The Wildcats are coming off a 35-13 loss at South Carolina.
First year Jacksonville State University Cheer Coach Adam Rhoden gives instructions to his program during the Gamecocks 2025 homecoming game. Rhoden joined Jax State this fall after spending 21 years as the Cheer Coach at Snead State Community College. Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
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