Kern had not coached since taking a leave of absence in December. Newton (Alabama/Vanderbilt) and Eddie Fogler (Vanderbilt/South Carolina). [13] The arena was named Auburn Arena. His most successful season at Auburn was the 1998–99 season, where he led the Tigers to an SEC regular season championship and the program's first ever #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, in which they reached the Sweet Sixteen. Two Auburn players have been named SEC Player of the Year: Charles Barkley in 1984 and Chris Porter in 1999. The Auburn men's basketball team is led by head coach Bruce Pearl, who has held the job since March 18, 2014.. Pearl's assistant coaches for the … The official Men's Basketball Coach List for the Auburn Tigers Auburn has won four conference regular season championships and two SEC Tournament championships. #WarEagle, - Coach Gus Malzahn (@CoachGusMalzahn) March 18, 2014. So what is Pearl doing now that he’s not able to go 100 miles per hour? "This is the penalty. The Auburn Tigers men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball team that represents Auburn University. "I wasn't here, I can't speak on what happened because I wasn't here. Auburn leads the all-time series 96–95. “With the exception of maybe Christmas or a couple days around Christmas, we worked almost every day from October.”. Sonny Smith was named SEC Coach of the Year in 1984 and 1988. Again, Pearl would certainly rather be in St. Louis; Omaha, Nebraska; Sacramento, California; or Cleveland coaching Auburn in the NCAA Tournament than at home trying to decide whether he should binge-watch “Breaking Bad” or “Billions.” But what’s happening now is much bigger than basketball. 11 Auburn players have been named All-Americans and Auburn has had 92 All-SEC selections. [10] Looking at the best potential college basketball nonconference matchups with a local flair, Bubbles, buy games and bid worries: Inside the frenzy to save college basketball's nonconference season, Louisville hoops players lead march, call for unity, Calipari: Won't play Louisville at neutral site, SEC sets conference play dates for men, women, Pac-12 gives hoops go-ahead for Nov. 25 start, Federal NIL bill introduced for college sports, British guard Hildreth commits to Wake Forest, Courtside: Greenberg and Dakich talk to Kentucky's John Calipari about his idea of playing college basketball in August, Same as it ever was? "They haven't been able to do it consistently in men's basketball. Chuck Person and Chris Morris both hold the record for the highest draft pick from Auburn, as each were selected 4th overall in their respective drafts. But they’re not taking that trip this year, for obvious reasons. To reach him by email, click here. Sonny Smith was the 15th head men's basketball coach at Auburn, coaching for 11 seasons from 1978–1989. Auburn has appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 6 times. On this day last year, the men’s basketball head coach was in Salt Lake City, where Auburn survived New Mexico State and throttled Kansas on its way to the first Final Four appearance in program history.