Tennessee men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl isn’t going anywhere.
Pearl said Tuesday he will not consider any other job offers and is returning to coach at UT.
“We have something going here that is very special,’’ Pearl told The News Sentinel. “I know there has been a lot of speculation, but I’m not going anywhere.
“The only job I’m interested in is the one here at the University of Tennessee.’’
There had been widespread speculation that Indiana would pursue Pearl for its opening before the Hoosiers filled the post with Marquette’s Tom Crean on Tuesday.
Pearl said Monday on Dan Patrick’s radio show that the Hoosiers had indeed extended some “feelers.’’
“At one time, Indiana was my dream job,’’ said Pearl, who won a Division II national championship at Southern Indiana in 1995 before moving on to Wisconsin-Milwaukee and ultimately, Tennessee four year ago. “I was not officially contacted.’’
UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said on the News Sentinel’s Sports Page radio show last week that he would have granted Indiana permission to talk to Pearl.
But Hamilton also said the Vols had every intention of doing what it took to keep Pearl at UT.
“Tennessee gave me the opportunity of a lifetime, and we’ve now built a program that’s on par with Indiana,’’ Pearl said. “Why would I leave a program I helped build. Why would I leave the people that believed in me?’’
Pearl, who was approached by Iowa about its vacancy a year ago, has a contract that calls for him to receive a $100,000 raise and make $1.4 million next season.
But sources close to the situation said Pearl will receive a larger raise based on the team’s accomplishments this season.
The Vols won a school-record 31 games, attained the No. 1 ranking in the nation for the first time in school history and won their first outright SEC title in 41 years en route to a second consecutive appearance in the Sweet 16.
Three hours after Pearl announced he was staying at UT on Tuesday, the Vols received a verbal commitment from Scotty Hopson, the No. 9 player in the nation, rounding out a recruiting class of four players that could rank in the top five.
Lofton Honored: Departing senior Chris Lofton was one of 10 players named to the John R. Wooden All-American team.
Lofton, the SEC’s all-time leading 3-point shooter and a two-time Associated Press All-American, will participate in a 3-point contest in San Antonio on Thursday night.
Wooden All-American selections are Lofton, D.J. Augustin (Texas), Michael Beasley (Kansas State), Stephen Curry (Davidson), Chris Douglas-Roberts (Memphis), Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina), Luke Harangody (Notre Dame), Kevin Love (UCLA), Derrick Rose (Memphis) and Brandon Rush (Kansas).
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
Vanderbilt 65, Tennessee 47, Jan. 24…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 67
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
hopefully Tyler Smith will echo that....
GoVol writes:
CBP needs to get it while it is there to get. In his profession you can go from hero to goat real quick. I just hope he remains hungry enough to build an elite program and not get content. Good luck coach!
utchris writes:
A little tidbit that has made all the Memphis fans around my work piss and moan today..this is great. I hope that this is not an April fools joke, bc it has sent Tigers fans into hysteria.....hahah...Way to put Bruce on the cover
http://memphissport.net/
GreerVol22 writes:
I heard he sold his boat.
HardcoreHottie writes:
A lot of people are selling their SeaRay boats.
TommyJack writes:
utchris: Is that for real?? Would be extremely funny if it is...
HardcoreHottie writes:
It stinks that with success, the end of every season comes the mindscrew of having to worry about Bruce leaving.
Don't tell us you are simply staying, Bruce, tell us you are RETIRING here!
bowerst#242774 writes:
I think he can buy a bigger boat. Why move to Indiana, where you can count on endless comparisons to Bob Knight, the women are ugly and boating season lasts only a couple months?
McIntireIMP writes:
Hamilton is too smart to let Pearl leave. He realizes the type of money he'd have to pay to replace Pearl with the same caliber coach. 1.8-2 mil is a steal when it comes to a great college coach. Plus, Pearl gets to build his own legacy here instead of endless comparisons at other more basketball rich schools.
utchris writes:
TJ: I dont know. If not it is a really good April Fools joke. I can tell you this. They sent an email out to everyone that advertises in their magazine that contained the "press release." Tiger Fans at my work are throwing fits, one said they are calling the Memphis AD...blah blah blah.
THE_VOL writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
byobbio writes:
Is there any possible way we could have an article written by Mike Griffith that does not have a typo?
volroadwarrior writes:
The interim Indiana coach kicked 2 of the prima donna players off the team which will leave them with no starters returning next year. They missed practices so he said "See Ya".
tigervol9802 writes:
Man....
I agree with THE_VOL yet again........
That's like twice in a couple of weeks. I'm scared.
wvuvolfan writes:
anything less than $2MM for CBPis a rip off by MH.
imjustafan writes:
Indiana just hired a new coach or they are about to...Pearl isn't leaving. He hasn't proved he can win in the post season yet.
ole_boi writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
GerryOP writes:
C'mon THE_VOL, can't you be happy about anything?
madcow26#524674 writes:
thanks coach...
samjrr writes:
as long as we have coach pearl we'll be on top of the sec.
jzt writes:
This is great news. Everyone was down in the dumps after the Louisville loss. Leave it to Pearl to re-energize the big orange masses.
GreerVol22 writes:
Did I say he sold his boat? Only to buys a BIGGER one baby! Make Billie G your biatch!
KnoxVol_in_TX writes:
I kinda agree with The_Vol_. I say he is content with where he is (and I am ecstatic that he is staying) and needs a few more milestones to warrant the kinda salary some of you suggest throwing his way. I think we have exalted Pearl because he is enthusiastic, but he has only proven himself to an extent thus far. I dont doubt he is an amazing coach, but the kind of money some suggest is reserved for NC coaches.
There are still many bridges to cross my friends.
LargeOrange writes:
I told you CBP was not going anywhere. 1) He already said he would stay at least until his contract with UT was done 2) Where else could he get blown out of the sweet 16 with talent he self described as "final 4 quality" and still get a raise? 3) I have seen his contract and it calls for a $1 million pay back to UT if he leaves before March 28th 2012. So, I am not surprised but very happy he will be here a long time, he makes BBall interesting and something fun to watch while we wait for Football season.
bluetick writes:
Yep..also as I have said once before in the last week, MONEY ISN'T EVERYTHING! And Pearl isn't leaving something he's helped create. And the_vol...please change your user name to the_dork
LargeOrange writes:
THE_VOL = THE_VeryObnoxiousLoser
redneckerson writes:
thevol, whatever STFU means, please do it.
dogboy writes:
I'ts great to have you coach, I can't wait for next year... It's great to be a Tennessee Vol!
wvuvolfan writes:
i think you have it backwards large. football is something to watch until BB season comes around again. how many people would be happy if CPF announced he would stay around a while longer?
King53 writes:
I said it's great..to be...a Tennessee Vol! Thanks Coach!!! I look forward to many more years of success and knocking down more barriers. SEC Tourney Champs and the Elite Eight being the next two barriers on the horizon.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
More good news, the best, in fact! Now if only Tyler would say the same. CBP undoubtedly had to say that to get Hopson to commit. THE_VOL, CBP's record on the court is not the only relevant factor in his pay. Internal factors would include the massive increase in attendance, support, and publicity he has brought. The key external factor is the going market rate for successful men's basketball coaches. I don't believe he should be in the $4mil/yr Billy Donovan category, and the $3mil/yr Gillespie figure is at least as ridiculous as Saban's package at Bama, based on current productivity. However, I can't see how anyone would object to $2mil/yr for CBP, given all of the above. I never doubted CBP's honesty or sincerity, but I do think it would be unfair to REFUSE a nice raise just BECAUSE he said he wanted to be here and hoped to stay.
juicetke#226846 writes:
I'm sure there was no coincidence that he called this press conference and the commitment by Hopson. Sounds like Hopson may have been a little worried he was leaving or another coach was feeding Hopson some bull.
richvol writes:
Tennessee did not have final four talent this year...that's obvious. Tyler Smith,if he stays,brings us closer to that level. If Scotty Hopson is as good as advertized and our returning players develop further we have a start.
Tennessee needs to pay Coach Pearl fairly. If they do then we will have no problem with him leaving. He has become a Tennessee man.
LargeOrange writes:
richvol - "Tennessee did not have final four talent this year...that's obvious." I agree, especially after both Chris and Howell went cold, but that was the quote from CBP, and he repeated it on Vol Calls Monday night. He said (paraphrasing) "it is not often you have a team that is capable of getting to the Final 4, we had that this year and it is very disappointing to not get there, in time we will have it again and will hopefully get the Final 4 done." MH needs to make sure he is paid on par with the top 2 or 3 coaches in the SEC.
LargeOrange writes:
wvuvolfan on April 2, 2008 at 7:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i think you have it backwards large. football is something to watch until BB season comes around again.
Are you sure you are not thinking about Memphis?
givehim6 writes:
Staying at UT and building thefuture progran, what I was wishing for.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
THE_VOL-
You are a grumpy bastard aren't you?
LargeOrange writes:
nafslov are you sure you have never mentioned your extreme dislike of Mark Packer to your friend sometime before? The reason I ask is, none of us on here even know you, but you can hardly post a comment on any subject without letting us know (and I am going from memory here) that you don't like: Mark Packer, Ray Mears, both Barthomew brothers, Ryan Karl, all 3 Clausen brothers, Ainge, Dickey and Seivers, Austin Rogers and more. My point being, if you have repeated your self so many times to all of us, your opinion of Mark Packer, et al, how is it you would have never mentioned this to someone who you call a friend?
wvuvolfan writes:
LargeOrange on April 2, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wvuvolfan on April 2, 2008 at 7:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i think you have it backwards large. football is something to watch until BB season comes around again.
Are you sure you are not thinking about Memphis?
Not at all large. traded my FB season tix for BB 3 years ago. Don't half to be totally FB to bleed orange.
LargeOrange writes:
wvuvolfan - you are right about that! They are not mutually exclusive either. Between Men's BB, the Lady Vols, and Football we almost have exciting entertainment year round. Now if the new BaseBall Coach gets it going on we will be 365! Go ALL Vols!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
LargeOrange, I think CBP should perhaps not be taken literally when he implied that we had Final Four talent. It may have just been press-agentry of a sort. IMHO, saying a team is "capable" of reaching a Final Four is not the same as saying it is a Final Four-caliber team, if I have stated it clearly. Sure, IF Wayne hadn't picked up those two cheap fouls early, and IF Chris and JaJuan had been lighting it up, and IF Padgett, for example, had gotten in foul trouble, etc., etc., we could have advanced. Then IF Lawson's ankle had flared up again or IF Hansbrough tripped over the side-line taking the court, we MIGHT have reached the Final Four. I think CBP was saying that we were WORTHY of making the Final Four, not that we SHOULD have made it. Of course, I didn't hear his exact words, so WTH do I know?
wvuvolfan writes:
large
i am ashamed to say i have not attended a diamond vol game since todd was there. although i have kept up. i hope coach r gets thing turned around. u r right. go all vols!
GlennMaxwell writes:
You guys as pumped about the Final Four as I am? Two games away from a national championship.
Go Tigers!
LargeOrange writes:
nafslov - I don't know much about Packer so I don't care either way. Since it is so dead around here and I am caught up at work, I will share my feelings about those you feel passionate about. I think Rogers has the potiential to be a star, too early to say on young Barthomew, but I thought Will was a beast and I thought he was outstanding at UT, so we disagree there. I never cared much for Dickey, I have spoken to him many times and I think he was pretty much a jerk, I love the "T" on the field and on the helmets and give him props for that as well as for building so many fine facilities, also probably the third best FB Coach we've ever had. Jury is still out on CBP as a game time coach, but as a salesman, motivator, excitement generator, and apparently recruiter, he is top notch. Agree on Ainge, and the 2 older Clausens, young one may be a lot better. Disagree on Ryan Karl, I think he showed more guts, heart and hustle than 3/4 of his teammates. In a way, like a Dane Bradshaw, he didn't have the raw athleticism of say the Smiths or Prince, but he brought that intensity and love of the Orange that makes a difference. I didn't bring up John Adams, for obvious reasons, Griffith does a pretty fair job most of the time. Agree on Coach Fulmer. Is this what they call the doldrums?
wvuvolfan writes:
say all you want maxy. we stomped your big blue butt. IN YOUR HOUSE!, no less.
GlennMaxwell writes:
And I'm more than happy to let you gloat over that "dominating" 4-point win, volfan.
After all, if all goes well, you'll soon be able to say you were the only team to beat the national champs. That'll be good for the state --Tennessee will have the national champions AND the lone team to beat the national champs. Not bad a year in college basketball for the state of Tennessee.
Of course, it would have been even better for you if it had been a true "butt stomping" -- something like, say, Memphis's 30-point halftime lead over Michigan State. But from the Vol perspective, considering the state of men's basketball until recent years, I guess four points is a "butt stomping."
At any rate, enjoy your victory. Considering the direction each team's season went after that game, I wouldn't trade places for the world.
wvuvolfan writes:
same goes for me in sept.
GlennMaxwell writes:
Good move switching the discussion to football, Volfan. You know that's a battle you'll usually win, even it does mean having to look at fat Phil waddling up and down the sideline.
wvuvolfan writes:
i love it maxy. you start off with your little gloat about the final four, can't stand it when i bring up the butt stomp, AT HOME, by the way. then take a personal shot at fulmer. who is your new coach? i can't remember. i guess i could if i happened to care.
we beat you by 18 last year. would that count as a butt stomp in your book? in mine, as well as most, it is a good old fashioned butt whipping. but i digress.
when you can talk about your conference record, which must be a football conference, with out creating smirks among the orange faithful, then have at it.
like i said before maxy. say all you want. we stomped your big blue butt in YOUR HOUSE.
I do agree it was a BB good season for the state. just wish vandy had held up longer in the dance.
hope you have a good day.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
I gotta hand it to our punk a$$ Memphis State boy, Glenn. The Tigers are looking good in the tourney. I'm glad that they were able to use that "L" UT hung on them as motivation. If Memphis State can somehow win those last two and cut down the nets, they won't be the only Nat Champs that we've owned in recent history. See you next year when we go for 3 in a row Glenn. We'll show ya'll how to protect your home court. Tell Cala-pansy and the 2 literate Memphis State Gangster-Athletes to take notes.
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