Auburn’s Bruce Pearl to Serve NCAA Suspension, Won’t Coach vs. Nebraska

Former Husker hoops assistant Wes Flanigan is taking his place for two games

Auburn will be without its head coach Saturday when the Tigers take on Nebraska in Atlanta. Bruce Pearl received a two-game suspension as part of NCAA penalties announced Friday.

The case, uncovered in 2017, revolved around former associate head coach Chuck Person, who accepted bribes in exchange for steering players to certain financial advisers. Another assistant paid a walk-on's tuition.

"It is time to put this behind us," Pearl said in a statement Friday. "As part of our penalty, I will begin my two-game suspension tomorrow against Nebraska."

Wes Flanigan, a Nebraska assistant from 2010 to 2012, will serve as Auburn's interim head coach.

Pearl, 61, is in his eighth year at Auburn and entered the 2021-22 season with a 138-92 record at the school, a 60 percent winning percentage. Additional sanctions imposed Friday against Auburn are detailed at this link. 

The Huskers and the No. 18 Tigers tip off at 10:30 a.m. CST Saturday in Atlanta's State Farm Arena. The Huskers also are down a coach, as assistant coach Matt Abdelmassih has taken a leave to address an unspecified health issue.