Tennessee head coach Bruce Pearl
Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl didn't get the big raise some anticipated after Memphis reportedly had interest in hiring him in March.
The University of Tennessee released terms of Pearl's new extended deal on Wednesday, revealing the fifth-year coach received about a 9.5 percent raise.
Pearl's contract averages out to $2.32 million annually over the six years of the new deal, keeping him third among SEC basketball coaches. Kentucky coach John Calipari has a deal worth $3.7 million while Florida's Billy Donovan makes $3.5 million.
Memphis was reportedly willing to offer Pearl $3 million per year, though both parties said there was never any direct communication.
Pearl will make $1.9 million this season, up from his prior contract which called for $1.7 million.
UT athletic director Mike Hamilton and Pearl quickly put speculation to rest, reaching an agreement in principle on April 2.
Pearl signed the contract June 30, a day before heading to Tel Aviv, Israel, where he's coaching the U.S. team in the Maccabiah games.
"Coach Pearl has created a national enthusiasm around our basketball program, raising its expectations and those of our basketball community,'' Hamilton said in a release. "We appreciate everything coach Pearl has accomplished for our basketball in such a short amount of time, and I look forward to many more successful seasons with him at the helm of our program.''
Pearl has averaged 25 wins a season over his four years at UT, winning an outright SEC title and three SEC East championships while qualifying for the NCAA tournament four consecutive years.
During the 2007-08 season, Pearl guided the Vols to the school's first No. 1 ranking in men's basketball, and UT has become the first program in SEC history to finish ahead of Kentucky four consecutive years while also winning a league-high 46 SEC games over the past four years.
We appreciate everything coach Pearl has accomplished for our basketball in such a short amount of time, and I look forward to many more successful seasons with him at the helm of our program.Mike Hamilton, UT athletic director
Just as in his prior deal, Pearl will receive a $500,000 retention bonus at the end of this season and again at the conclusion of the 2012-13 season.
The new contract maintains the $100,000 "escalator clause'' - a pre-determined annual raise Hamilton uses with other revenue coaches - which boosts Pearl's salary to $2 million for the 2010-11 season, $2.1 million in 2011-12, and so on.
Should Pearl choose to leave the Vols for another job, he would be obligated to pay $1.8 million in 2009, which is believed to rank among the highest buyouts in the country.
"I feel good about the contract and my commitment to the university,'' said Pearl, whose buyout decreases incrementally to $1 million the final year of his contract.
If UT were to fire Pearl, his buyout at the conclusion of next season would be $3.65 million, and $3.35 million at the end of the 2010-11 season.
Men's basketball revenue has doubled since Pearl took over as head coach, going from approximately $4.15 million in 2004-05 to $8.48 million in the 2009 fiscal year.
Pearl is due to return to the U.S. on July 23, at which point he will go on the road recruiting through July 31.
Pearl said he and the U.S. team are enjoying their time in Israel.
"We've had five days of camp, practicing in the mornings, and each afternoon we've been touring the country,'' he said. "The first day we went to some caves, digs and ruins. We spent two days in Jerusalem and visited the Holocaust Museum.
"The weather has been beautiful, and it's been a very cultural experience."
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Comments » 17
Bigger_Al writes:
Yes! In Bruce We Trust! Coach Pearl is the best thing to happen to UT hoops since Ernie and Bernie. Remember the very short time ago when UT underachieving meant missing the NIT?
Here is the bottom line: "Since Pearl has been at the helm of Tennessee’s basketball program, UT has seen revenue rise from approximately $4.15 million in 2004-05 to $8.48 million in fiscal year 2009."
And here is the best: Pearl has beaten the bejeezus out of the Florida Gators with an overall record of 7 -1. That includes a 3 -1 record over the back-to-back championship teams.
Florida fans and some other SEC fans are jealous of Bruce, but only Cheatin' Illini fans hate Pearl! I think some of the nay-sayers on here are Cheatin' Illini fans that are bitter about getting caught buying recruits. (Sounds like Bama fans, eh?)
The future's so bright, gotta wear my orange shades!
RockyTop writes:
If you don't like it, go pull for another team. Also, you need to take the VOL off of your user name, because you are not "TRUE ORANGE".
gnm53108 writes:
Gotta wear my orange shades!
I'm with ya.
I'll bring the orange koolaid.
Frost brewed of course.
Velo_Vol writes:
Gotta love life in the sports economy world.
Isn't everyone in the real world getting a 9.5% raise this year?
CrankE writes:
Well, I didn't increase revenues by a factor of 2 for my company so, no, I didn't get a 9.5% raise-or any other kind of raise. But I sure am thankful to still have a job.
After this whole deal was agreed to, his words indicated that he had no intention of leaving UT for Memphis. During the whole deal, he kept his mouth shut and his wallet open. I like Pearl and I know he's been good for UT basketball. But the honeymoon is over.
simpleman5457625 writes:
I'm surprised no one has commented on the fact that his raise matches the students' raise (tuition)....
johnlg00#206211 writes:
As I said on another thread, CBP is getting about what he deserves. His on-court record--best 4-year run in UT b'ball history--and the doubling of basketball revenues during his tenure speak for themselves. That said, it is yet to be proven that he can get us to the mythical "next level" among the real basketball powers in the country. I don't begrudge CBP's desire to coach the Maccabiah Games team, but I would have felt better about next season if the UT players knew he was at least in town and keeping up with their off-season activities. I also REALLY hope he has or will come up with some kind of workable half-court offense for next season. I supported the Vols during the worst of times and am mostly enjoying this era, but this season will tell us a LOT about how much more progress we can reasonably expect from CBP.
alfrizzle097 writes:
Pearl has doubled revenue. Is he getting paid double what Peterson did? And beyond revenue, Pearl has increased exposure and fan involvement. That exposure yields dividends that don't show up under the basketball column in the accounting books.
What percentage of alumni are actively involved in the department they graduated from? Probably an exceedingly small percentage. Their professors are largely retired and there is nothing professionally to tie them to the place except for memories. Involvement in the sports life of the campus keeps them tied to the university community and I guarantee it increases academic donations.
Pearl is getting a raise based on the fact that he continues to be a financial asset to the university. 200 thousand dollars is well worth not losing a couple mil.
bobscleo#330846 writes:
well you must remember that his pay does not, and i repeat does not, come form the university, but from the athletic dept, it has no impact on university operations-when will you people understand that-the athletic dert. operates independant of the university-and also remember that the athletic dept. year-in-and year out is the biggest contributor to the university-thier budget is independant of the school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
VOLKING writes:
Great post. Now you have truly revealed that you are the world's dumbest human. Great accomplishment. Please, no one else bother to argue with this idiot. He loves the days of Jerry Green, Wade Houston and Buzz Petersen. Take a non-basketball program to No. 1 for the first time in history, make the NCAA Tourney (with less talent than most SEC schools) every year you have been coach, and still there are just grand idiots like yourself. Please root for some other team. You will not be missed. True Vol fans don't want you around anymore...period. I've known rocks (and Florida fans) that are smarter than you.
VOLKING writes:
No true point guard, freshmen starters, juco transfers. Yeah, you are right....we should have won the national championship. Now you and Morristown are the 2 dumbest humans on earth. Please go cheer (which is a joke because all you guys do is spew filth and negativity) for ANY other team. Pearl has made our basketball team relevant again. I guarantee that as soon as he is gone, we will fade back into oblivion. Go away, both of you kids. Leave this board to the adults who remember what is was like before Pearl came here.
Vol_Jokes writes:
"Coach Pearl has created a national enthusiasm around our basketball program, raising its expectations and those of our basketball community,''
Ha ha..hee hee. Your AD better get back to reality. National enthusiasm???
Maybe this is a sign that the man is delusional. I mean who else would give a coach that had a failure of a season last year... a huge salary increase followed by a 9.5% raise. You guys pay your coaches on trying to judge his potential while other schools pay based on performance. Take a look at what he's done. Two seasons ago miserable finish to the season and the usual stink up in the tournament. Last year what a season and wasn't that the first with all his players? Can I get a job as head coach of Tenn. Seems it doesn't require much to make big money
VOLDoll writes:
VolDog you sound like my husband and his friends. I like Pearl. He has brought a lot of excitment to this area. Obviously Pearl is not a great coach but he is better than what we have had here in years.
I will tell you what I tell my husband if you don't like him then stay away. I will take someone else to the games.
VOLKING writes:
How's things in memphis working out for ya?
alfrizzle097 writes:
I too think that Pearl is growing as an in game coach. I do see him improving in that area.
But to say he isn't VERY good? Heck.... he went 3-1 against the eventual national champions with a 6'4" power forward.
You complain about NCAA tournament wins.... he has 5 in four year and has made the sweet sixteen twice... something the school had only done once previously since the tournament went to 64 teams.
Last year everyone expected the team to be spectacular. Tatum spent much of the year injured. Hopson never really came on till the end of the year. Bobby Maze showed flashes but wasn't decisive enough. JP was dealing with a shoulder injury throughout the year.
Last year's team was replacing Chris Lofton, Jajuan Smith, Ramar Smith (in hindsight has there ever been a case where it is more obvious when a player is or isn't playing with drugs in his system?), and Jordan Howell. Two of those guys were stars, and the other two were solid contributors until the Memphis game.
And I'm sick of the shots at Jerry Green. To lump him in with Buzz Peterson is ridiculous. He had a great four year stretch where Tennessee basketball was competitive. They won games and were fun to watch. He got himself fired by pointing out how pathetic the UT basketball fan base was. Jerry won games, but still couldn't get football fans to watch another sport. Pearl, being a good publicist, has gotten fans excited about basketball which is something few thought any coach would be able at UT.
Now fans are extremely critical of the coach that revived a program that was DEAD just one year removed from a two year stretch where he tied the best tournament performace UT has had since it went to 64 teams.
For god's sake, we won the SEC east and made it the the tournament championship game for the first time in how many years? Sure the SEC was down, mostly because of players leaving. Tennessee lost as much last off season as any team, so why is it that we were still better?
I don't know how many of the critics on here are just trying to stir some poor sap up (ya got me), but this sort of thing is why I can't respect UT fans (as a bunch, sorry can't refer to the bunch without encompassing the good bananas too). I love their enthusiasm, but some of the expectations are foolish and the sense of entitlement is disgusting.
I wonder if you folks realize that other schools try to win games.....
sizeDD writes:
while I don't agree that the contract is a joke or that CBP hasn't accomplished anything I also wish that ALL VOL fans could express their opinions on this site without being criticized; I certainly hope that looking through orange colored glasses is not a requirement for being a TRUE VOL fan. JMHO
reachkim00 writes:
Pure BULLSH!T in my opinion.
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