Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl officially announced his retirement on Monday after it had been rumored for a few weeks. The retirement by Pearl takes some of the cache away from the Auburn at Arizona game on December 6 as the first of a home-and-home with the Tigers.
Pearl will be succeeded by his son Stephen, who was on his father's staff during all 11 years he was the head coach at Auburn. Steven Pearl was signed to a five-year contract as the 22nd head coach in Auburn history. Steven Pearl also played for his father at Tennessee from 2007 through 2011.