After six seasons as an assistant coach and nine total seasons with Auburn’s men’s basketball team, Steven Pearl has received a promotion the program announced Tuesday.

Come the 2023-24 season, Steven Pearl will serve as the Tigers’ associate head coach, one spot below his father and Auburn’s head coach, Bruce Pearl.

“Steven has been an integral part of the success that we’ve had at Auburn from the beginning,” head coach Bruce Pearl said in a release. “Many people may forget that he started as an assistant strength coach and worked his way up through our program. He has been able to recruit and coach at a very high level. His ability to communicate and teach our system to our players is second to none. He is truly one of the best assistant coaches in the country and has earned this promotion.”

In the past two seasons, Silver Waves Media has recognized Steven Pearl as one of the 50 most impactful high-major assistant coaches in NCAA Division I basketball.

With Steven Pearl on the coaching staff, Auburn has won three SEC Championships and have appeared in four NCAA Tournaments. Steven Pearl also assisted in the development of four NBA first-round picks.

On the bench, Steven Pearl’s duties include scouting the opponent, defensive strategies and in-game adjustments and play calling. However, part of what has made Steven Pearl so valuable to the Tigers’ program is his relentless recruiting strategies.

“He is a younger version of me,” Bruce Pearl said in a release. “He has been able to stay up-to-date on the game, recruiting and technology. He has a knack for finding talent, especially in the age of the transfer portal. This decision has the full support of our coaching staff and the administration.”

Prior to following in his father’s footsteps and joining the coaching ranks, Steven Pearl played under Bruce Pearl at Tennessee, where he helped the Volunteers to back-to-back SEC East Titles in 2008 and 2009. Steven Pearl also appeared in the NCAA Tournament each year he was in Knoxville, including two trips to the Sweet 16 in 2008 and 2009, and an Elite 8 berth in 2010.

“I am so incredibly grateful for this opportunity and the trust so many people here at Auburn have put in me,” Steven Pearl said in a release. “To BP, our administration, the board, our amazing coaching staff, our student-athletes, supporters of our program and the Auburn Family at large – thank you for this honor. I recognize how privileged I am to be able to come to work every day for the Auburn men’s basketball program, and I do not take that for granted.