Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl — a prominent Jewish figure and outspoken supporter of Israel — recently explained why he places his trust in President Trump’s judgment, particularly amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran.
Speaking with OutKick‘s Dan Dakich, Pearl pointed to Trump’s past dealings with Iran, noting that the president delivered a clear ultimatum: dismantle your nuclear program or face dire consequences.
The Tigers’ men’s basketball coach praised Trump’s instincts, calling them “incredible,” and predicted that history will remember him as one of the greatest leaders. Pearl told Dakich that while Trump’s decisions may sometimes seem off-the-cuff, they are, in his view, broadly calculated and highly effective:
He went on to explain that in the past, there was a majority and a minority when it came to opinions on an issue. Now, that has morphed into “majority” and “opposition,” and that the Democrats have moved much further left on the political spectrum.
“I don’t think the Republicans have gone much further to the right; I disagree with that,” Pearl said. “I think they’re still center-right. The Democrats have gone way overhead to the left. So I get the Bernie Sanders thing.”
While Democrats being against the president is pretty straightforward; some Republicans being against intervention in the Middle East is a bit more complicated.
“There were two reasons why I think some Republicans are having some discussions about not being 100 percent supportive of the United States stepping in,” he said. “First of all, number one, there are people that truly do believe that they don’t, they don’t want to get involved, because they don’t, they don’t want to start wars.”
Secondly, while acknowledging concerns about the growing national debt — and the role foreign aid plays in exacerbating it — Pearl argued that supporting Israel yields strong returns. He pointed to shared technological, military, and nuclear-security benefits that directly enhance America’s ability to counter threats from Iran. Pearl summed it up with a striking analogy: “Israel is a good investment” — like a winning NIL program.
Bruce Pearl launched his coaching journey as an assistant at Stanford (1982–1986) and then at Iowa (1986–1992), both under legendary head coach Tom Davis. He cut his teeth during these years in high-level college basketball, laying the groundwork for his own head coaching success.
Southern Indiana (1992–2001)
Pearl took the helm of a struggling University of Southern Indiana program and swiftly built it into a Division II powerhouse. Under his leadership, USI made nine consecutive NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, captured four Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) titles, and won the national championship in 1995. That season earned him NABC Division II Coach of the Year honors, highlighting his talent for program-building.
Milwaukee (2001–2005)
In 2001, Pearl made the leap to Division I with UW-Milwaukee. Within just a few seasons, he led the Panthers to two NCAA tournament appearances (2003 and 2005). The 2005 tournament run was particularly memorable: Milwaukee upset Alabama and Boston College en route to a Sweet Sixteen berth. That Cinderella run earned Pearl the Horizon League Coach of the Year award and national attention.
Tennessee (2005–2011)
Pearl was hired by the University of Tennessee in 2005 and rapidly elevated the Volunteers to national prominence. Over six consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, he guided the team to back-to-back Sweet Sixteens (2007 and 2008) and the program’s first-ever Elite Eight appearance in 2010.
A charismatic and energetic figure, Pearl became a fan favorite — most famously when he painted his torso orange to cheer on the Lady Vols.
However, his tenure ended in controversy. In 2011, following an NCAA investigation into an improper cookout with recruits and false statements to investigators, Pearl was fired and hit with a three-year show-cause penalty.
Auburn (2014–Present)
Despite the lingering NCAA sanctions, Auburn University hired Pearl in 2014, a bold move that paid off handsomely. He quickly resurrected the program, leading it to 11 NCAA tournament bids in 11 seasons, including historic Final Four appearances in 2019 and 2025.
Pearl’s tenure at Auburn has included:
- Four SEC regular-season championships
- Two SEC tournament titles
- Becoming Auburn’s all-time winningest coach
His achievements have brought widespread acclaim, earning awards such as:
- Co-Associated Press Coach of the Year (2025)
- Sporting News Coach of the Year (2006)
- NABC Coach of the Year (2025)
- Adolph Rupp Cup winner (2008)
READ NEXT: Ninth-Inning Chaos Rocks College World Series Contenders