Guess where I found this picture? How about Hawkeye Report in an article titled “Coaching Search Update: Day Two“.
In case you can’t figure it out, that’s the Rivals site for the Iowa Hawkeyes. According to many, Bruce Pearl is a name that seems to be surfacing the most in relation the the vacant Iowa job. Looking back, we dealt with the Iowa Rumors around here last year. Granted, they still had a coach at that time.
Iowa journalist Pat Harty definitely thinks Athletics Director Gary Barta should go diving for Pearl. The Hawkeye’s didn’t get it done under Steve Alford and now they really need to make the right hire this time. Harty suggests that if Barta is not going after Pearl, he should. Pearl was an assistant coach at Iowa for Tom Davis from 1986-1992.
Don’t forget though that Pearl’s time at Iowa wasn’t all positive. It was Pearl that had Iowa wrapped up in the bitter recruiting battle for Deon Thomas with Illiinios. After losing the battle for Thomas, Pearl turned over tapes of Thomas admitting he had been offered an SUV and cash by Illinois assistant coach Jimmy Collins. Illiniois was found to be not guilty after the NCAA investigated. However, the search uncovered other violations that led to a punishment by the NCAA for “lack of institutional control”.
Also, let’s not forget that Tom Davis was the winningest coach in Iowa basketball history (269-140) in his 13 seasons at Iowa from 1986 until 1999 when Iowa decided not to renew his contract. That season Iowa won 20 games and made it to the NCAA Tournament. Pearl couldn’t have been happy to hear how Davis, his long time friend and mentor, had been treated.
There are several other articles out there that list Pearl as a possible replacement to Alford. The HawkEye actually thinks that Pearl may be feeling some heat at Tennessee after blowing a 20 point lead to Ohio State in the Sweet 16. Is he serious?
The Bleacher Report is a bit more realisitic: “Right now, Gillispie and Pearl have better players, better facilities, and, quite frankly, better fan bases at their respective universities.”
Of course, Tennessee Athletics Director Mike Hamilton says Pearl is staying.
Hamilton said Pearl has no desire to leave UT, and Hamilton is not going to let him leave.
“I told him the rumors would be out there heavy for the next few days and to let me know if there’s anything we need to address,” Hamilton said. “We have a great relationship, and Bruce has assured me on multiple occasions that he’s happy and not going anywhere.
“We’ve invested $36 million in basketball between the arena renovations and practice facility. Four of our top eight guys coming back are freshmen, and the future is really bright.”
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