Bruce Pearl has taken Auburn basketball to new heights, transforming it into a powerhouse on the court, while Rick Pitino has worked his usual magic at St. John’s, leading the team to a swift resurgence. The stellar achievements of these two coaches have resulted in the first-ever tie in the 58-year history of the men’s college basketball coach of the year award. Pearl and Pitino each garnered 20 votes from the national media panel responsible for the season’s AP Top 25 rankings. Other notable mentions included Pat Kelsey of Louisville with eight votes, Jon Scheyer of Duke receiving five, and Dennis Gates of Missouri and Tom Izzo of Michigan State who each acquired three votes. Ben McCollum from Drake and Eric Olen from UC San Diego also received a single vote each.
For St. John’s, Pitino’s appointment in 2023 marked a turning point. The Red Storm had been struggling, having last appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2019 and with irregular success since the late 1990s. Pitino quickly reinvigorated the team, achieving 20 wins in his initial season and catapulting them back into the national spotlight. Under his leadership, St. John’s secured the Big East regular-season championship with an impressive 18-2 record and clinched its first Big East Conference Tournament victory since 2000. The team matched its record 31 wins from the 1980s era under legendary coach Lou Carnesecca and achieved its highest AP Top 25 ranking in 34 years, peaking at No. 5 in the final regular-season poll. St. John’s entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 2 seed, triumphing over Omaha before falling to Arkansas in the second round. Pitino, known for his quick turnarounds, replicated the success he achieved at previous coaching roles at Boston University, Providence, Kentucky, Louisville, and Iona. He stands distinguished as the only coach to guide six different teams to the NCAA Tournament.
Reflecting on his long career, Pitino remarked, “I have been blessed for a long period of time — fifty-plus years of coaching. It’s going to stop, so why not have a blast? Why not get the most out of it? Laugh, have fun, get great experiences.”
Bruce Pearl has mirrored this sentiment through his leadership at Auburn since taking charge in 2015. Before his tenure, the Tigers had not seen NCAA Tournament action since 2003, but by his fourth season, Pearl had led them back to the tournament. The following year, Auburn made a historic run to its first-ever Final Four in 2019. This season, the Tigers have been nearly unstoppable.
With the exceptional contributions of All-American Johni Broome, Auburn secured the SEC regular-season title and spent eight consecutive weeks as the nation’s No. 1 team, amassing a school-record 32 victories. Entering the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed, Auburn advanced to the Final Four for the second time, defeating Michigan State 70-64. Pearl joins Cliff Ellis, who won the honor in 1999, as the only Auburn coaches to receive AP coach of the year accolades. He also becomes the first SEC coach to claim the award since John Calipari of Kentucky a decade ago.
Pearl emphasized the importance of unity, stating, “You want to be on a great team, you’ve got to make sacrifices. You’ve got to share and you’ve got to hold each other accountable. I think that’s a big part of what this locker room is all about. This is a team of faith.”
Both St. John’s and Auburn can celebrate their national coach of the year achievements, showcasing the transformative impact these leaders have had on their programs.