Auburn gives Pearl an 8-year contract, starting at $5.4 million

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Auburn coach Bruce Pearl is expected to make more than $50 million under a new eight-year contract.

Athletic director Allen Greene announced the terms of the deal Saturday, hours before the top-ranked Tigers face Oklahoma at Auburn Arena. Greene and Pearl announced a deal on social media on Friday without posting terms.

Pearl’s salary will start at $5.4 million with an annual raise of $250,000 that would see him earn $7.15 million in the final year. He led Auburn to the Final Four in 2019, and the Tigers received their first-ever No. 1 ranking this week.

“By leading Auburn’s men’s basketball program to unprecedented heights, Coach Bruce Pearl has earned this contract extension commensurate with his level of success in the Southeastern Conference,” said Greene said in a statement. “We are delighted to agree to terms that will allow BP to remain in the Plains for many years to come while investing in its assistant coaches and support staff.”

Auburn has the best overall record in the SEC over the past five years.

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